Parliament Question: Saksham Anganwadi and POSHAN 2.0

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT RAJYA SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *392 TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.04.2026 SAKSHAM ANGANWADI AND POSHAN 2.0

392. SHRI P. WILSON:

Will the Minister of WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

(a) whether there have been delays or shortfalls in release of funds to Tamil Nadu under Saksham Anganwadi and POSHAN 2. 0, including for crèches and supplementary nutrition;

(b) the details of Central share released and pending for Tamil Nadu during 2024–25 and 2025– 26 and reasons for any delay affecting over 27 lakh beneficiaries;

(c) the criteria adopted for allocation of funds under these schemes; and

(d) the steps taken to release pending dues and ensure equitable and timely support for nutrition and women empowerment programmes? ANSWER MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI ANNPURNA DEVI)

(a) to (d) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House. *****STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (A) TO (D) OF RAJYA SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 392 TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.04.2026 REGARDING “SAKSHAM ANGANWADI AND POSHAN 2.0”

(a) to (d): Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 is a Centrally Sponsored scheme. The implementation of the scheme falls under the ambit of State Governments and UTs administrations. Funds are allocated to the States and UTs under various components based on the proposals submitted by them during Annual Programme Implementation Plan (APIP) meetings and their eligibility to receive funds as per schematic norms.

Under the Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, the Government of India releases grants- in-aid to the States/UTs on the following cost-sharing ratio between Centre and States/UTs:

Components under Anganwadi Services General Salary Supplementary Nutrition Poshan Programme and Scheme for Abhiyan Adolescent Girls States and UTs with Legislature 60:40 NA 50:50 60:40 NE and Himalayan States 90:10 90:10 90:10 90:10 (including J&K) UT Without Legislature 100:0 NA 100:0 100:0 From Financial Year 2021-22, funds are released through PFMS in compliance with the Single Nodal Agency (SNA) guidelines issued by the Department of Expenditure. Release of central funds to State Governments and UT Administration is subject to compliance of SNA norms by the States/UTs which, inter-alia, include timely transfer of matching State share, deposit of interest to Consolidated Fund of India and at least 75% expenditure of the previous grant-in-aid released to the States/UTs.

Further, SNA SPARSH module which is based on just in time method, has been made applicable w.e.f 01.11.2025, for Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0. Under this module, mother sanctions are issued to the States and UTs with Legislature. The release of funds is based on the expenditure reported by the States and UTs in their Utilisation Certificates (UC) and State of Expenditure (SoE) and their admissibility as per schematic norms.

Central funds under Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 to the State of Tamil Nadu have been released in timely manner based on compliance of norms under SNA and SNA SPARSH modules by the State. The component wise amount of funds released and amount of mother sanction issued to the State of Tamil Nadu during 2024–25 and 2025–26 under Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 is as below:(Rs. in Crore) Amount available with State at the end of Poshan FY General SNP SAG F.Y.

Abhiyan Release in SNA 2024-25 253.41 351.15 4.48 29.42 77.76 2025-26 206.20 184.43 3.17 35.93 8.93 Mother Sanction status under SNA SPARSH (as on 30.03.2026) Out of Rs 192.98 cr of Mother sanction, bills 2025-26 67.70 89.63 1.50 33.08 have been raised for Rs. 108.27 cr and Rs 84.70 cr is available In addition to this, Mission Shakti aims at strengthening interventions for women safety, security and empowerment. Mission Shakti comprises of two verticals ‘Sambal’ for safety and security of women and ‘Samarthya’ for empowerment of women. The ‘Sambal’ has components of One Stop Centre (OSC), Women Helpline (WHL), Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) and Nari Adalat (Nari Adalat). The ‘Samarthya’ has components of Shakti Sadan, Sakhi Niwas, Padhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), Palna and SANKALP: Hub for Empowerment of Women (SANKALP: HEW).

As per the Mission Shakti guidelines, these schemes are Centrally Sponsored and the Central Government provides 100% financial assistance to States/ UTs. The overall implementation of these schemes lies with the State Governments/UT Administrations.

The Ministry of Women and Child Development has introduced Palna Scheme under the Samarthya Vertical of Umbrella Mission Shakti for all States and UTs w.e.f. 01 April 2022.

Anganwadi centres are the world's largest childcare institutions dedicated to providing essential care and support to children ensuring delivery of care facilities till the last mile. In a first of its kind approach, Ministry has extended the services of childcare through Anganwadi cum Crèche

(AWCC). Anganwadi cum Crèche initiative aims to increase ‘women work force participation’ in the economy. The objective of the scheme is to provide quality crèche facility in safe and secure environment for children (from ages 6 months – 6 years), nutritional support, health and cognitive development of children, growth monitoring & immunization. Crèche facilities under Palna are

provided to all mothers, irrespective of their employment status.

Palna scheme is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme. Programme Approval Board (PAB) meetings are held with the State Governments and UT Administrations annually wherein States and UTs submit proposals for opening Anganwadi-cum-Creches and operationalize them. State Governments and UT Administrations also contribute their corresponding share for the implementation of the Scheme. A total of 600 AWCCs have been approved by the Ministry for State of Tamil Nadu as per proposals received from them.

Amount of funds raised by the State should be as per schematic guidelines. For just-in-time release of funds, SNA Sparsh has been introduced for Palna Scheme also and State can raise bills onaccount of pending dues, if any, after compliance of provisions of guidelines of scheme, General Financial Rules, 2017 and instructions issued by Ministry of Finance. During FY 2024-25, funds amounting to Rs. 5.87 Crore have been released to the State of Tamil Nadu under PALNA scheme.

During FY 2025-26, funds amounting to Rs. 2.13 Crore have been released and mother sanction for an amount of Rs. 3.47 crore under SNA Sparsh have been issued to State of Tamil Nadu. *****