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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION. 4672
TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.03.2026
SCHEMES TO TACKLE MALNUTRITION
4672. DR. M K VISHNU PRASAD:
Will the Minister of WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:
(a) the details of the schemes/programmes being implemented to tackle malnutrition
among women and children in the country, particularly in Tamil Nadu;
(b) the details of the budget allocation made for the said programmes during the last three
years and the current year, State/UT-wise including in the said State;
(c) the details of the malnutrition rate in the said State during the said period; and
(d) the details of the concrete measures being taken by the Government to tackle
malnutrition in the country?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
(SHRIMATI SAVITRI THAKUR)
(a) to (d): Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 (Mission Poshan 2.0) is the ongoing
scheme under the Ministry of Women and Child Development to strengthen Nutrition and
address the challenge of malnutrition in the country.
Under this Mission, Anganwadi services, Poshan Abhiyaan and Scheme for Adolescent girls
have been subsumed. It is a Centrally Sponsored scheme where the responsibility for
implementation of various activities lies with the States and UTs. This Mission includes
beneficiaries; Children under 6 years of age, pregnant women, lactating mothers and adolescent
girls (age 14-18 years in Aspirational Districts and North-Eastern region) in the country
including the state of Tamil Nadu. The status of nutritional indicators in the State of Tamil
Nadu is available at the link: https://www.poshantracker.in/statistics
Under Mission Poshan 2.0 a new strategy has been made for reduction in malnutrition and for
improved health, wellness and immunity through activities like community engagement,
outreach, behavioural change and advocacy. It focuses on Maternal Nutrition, Infant and
Young Child Feeding practices, treatment of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM)/ Moderate
Acute Malnutrition (MAM) and wellness through AYUSH practices to reduce prevalence of
wasting, stunting, anaemia and underweight.Further, Supplementary Nutrition is provided to Children (6 months to 6 years), Pregnant
Women, Lactating Mothers and Adolescent Girls in accordance with the nutrition norms
contained in Schedule-II of the National Food Security Act, 2013. These norms have been
revised in January 2023. The old norms were largely calorie-specific; however, the revised
norms are more comprehensive and balanced in terms of both quantity and quality of
supplementary nutrition based on the principles of diet diversity that provides for quality
protein, healthy fats and micronutrients (Calcium, Zinc, Iron, Dietary Folate, Vitamin A,
Vitamin-B6 and Vitamin B-12). Extra Supplementary Nutrition is provided to Severely
Acutely Malnourished (SAM) children as per NFSA.
Also, Ministry of Women & Child Development and Ministry of Health & Family Welfare
have jointly released the Protocol for Management of Malnutrition in Children to prevent and
treat severely acute malnutrition in children and for reducing associated morbidity and
mortality. The community-based approach involves timely detection and screening of children
with severe acute malnutrition in the community, management for those without medical
complications with wholesome, local nutritious foods at home and supportive medical care.
The protocol includes an appetite test and screening process for children aged 6 months to 6
years who are severely acute malnourished (SAM) or severely underweight (SUW). Post-
screening, such children are referred to Nutrition Rehabilitation Centers (NRC) or hospital
facilities for further care.
To encourage diet-diversity and consumption of wholesome local produce, Poshan Vatikas
have been developed at AWCs. Poshan Vatikas help to meet the important dietary diversity
gap by providing different fruits, nuts, herbs, medicinal plants and vegetables round the year.
Under this Mission, one of the major activities undertaken is Community Mobilization and
Awareness Advocacy to educate people on nutritional aspects as adoption of good nutrition
habit requires sustained efforts for behavioural change. State and UTs are conducting and
reporting regular sensitisation activities under Jan Andolans during Poshan Maah and Poshan
Pakhwada celebrated in the months of September and March-April respectively. Community
Based Events (CBEs) have served as a significant strategy in changing nutritional practices and
all Anganwadi workers are required to conduct two Community Based Events every month. A
total of 9.8 crore CBEs have been conducted from 2018 to February 2026 and more than 150
crore Jan Andolan activities have been conducted since 2018 through 15 Jan Andolans.
The details of the budget allocation made for the said programme during the last three years
and the current year, State and UT-wise are placed in the Annexure.
*****Annexure
(Rupee in crores)
S. State and UT Funds released Funds released Funds released Funds released (2025-26)
No. (2022-23) (2023-24) (2024-25) as on date 17.03.2026
Andaman &
1 3.85 12.15 9.63 8.10
Nicobar Islands
2 Andhra Pradesh 827.79 705.68 645.73 522.97
3 Arunachal Pradesh 137.78 162.06 102.61 109.67
4 Assam 1651.63 2233.31 2482.34 1025.07
5 Bihar 1740.09 1859.29 2262.92 878.72
6 Chandigarh 33.10 19.79 14.56 9.87
7 Chhattisgarh 668.96 579.46 733.30 392.39
8 DNH & DD 5.80 11.97 9.13 144.61
9 Delhi 182.77 161.81 160.41 5.92
10 Goa 14.71 13.95 13.44 12.62
11 Gujarat 912.64 1126.80 601.32 337.53
12 Haryana 195.25 225.78 232.69 43.38
13 Himachal Pradesh 270.24 301.09 313.07 257.02
14 Jammu & Kashmir 479.01 530.88 662.79 282.87
15 Jharkhand 430.91 664.30 496.95 386.01
16 Karnataka 765.87 912.96 886.85 620.40
17 Kerala 444.98 306.64 435.74 176.06
18 Ladakh 18.79 19.62 18.89 16.41
19 Lakshadweep 0.44 2.88 1.35 0.82
20 Madhya Pradesh 1011.57 1123.11 1144.54 791.73
21 Maharashtra 1646.17 1699.52 1368.84 1060.79
22 Manipur 135.95 201.28 342.87 133.15
23 Meghalaya 192.39 269.69 137.93 81.40
24 Mizoram 42.81 100.27 55.29 47.93
25 Nagaland 199.30 262.91 147.01 88.88
26 Odisha 923.92 968.80 948.16 789.82
27 Puducherry 0.12 4.48 3.68 3.90
28 Punjab 75.31 307.87 265.48 133.15
29 Rajasthan 974.02 1091.96 741.85 722.33
30 Sikkim 20.33 33.49 18.07 9.00
31 Tamil Nadu 766.81 880.79 638.47 508.87
32 Telangana 550.69 507.87 430.76 117.70
33 Tripura 150.52 244.22 153.41 133.75
34 Uttar Pradesh 2721.87 2668.69 2694.62 1944.79
35 Uttarakhand 425.84 288.24 216.33 223.30
36 West Bengal 1227.59 1237.56 1513.80 1029.28
*****