Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Women and Child Development addressed questions regarding the status of adolescent girls and children under POSHAN 2.0 in Uttar Pradesh. Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 aims to combat malnutrition through a multi-sectoral approach, community engagement, and improved nutrition delivery. Data from the Poshan Tracker and National Family Health Survey (NFHS) indicates improvements in malnutrition indicators. Several initiatives, including upgraded Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) and the use of ICT tools like the Poshan Tracker with Facial Recognition System (FRS), have been implemented.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0:**
* A centrally sponsored mission addressing malnutrition through convergent efforts of 18 Ministries/Departments.
* Objectives include human capital development, addressing malnutrition, and promoting nutrition awareness.
* Focuses on maternal nutrition, infant and young child feeding norms, and treatment of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) and Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM).
* **Supplementary Nutrition and Dietary Improvements:**
* Supplementary nutrition is provided to children (6 months to 6 years), pregnant women, lactating mothers, and adolescent girls, following revised norms from January 2023.
* Emphasis on diet diversity, fortified rice, and the use of millets in meals at Anganwadi centers (AWCs).
* **Community Engagement and Awareness:**
* Community Mobilization and Awareness Advocacy activities conducted to educate people on nutritional aspects.
* Regular sensitization activities during Poshan Maahs (September) and Poshan Pakhwadas (March/April).
* Anganwadi workers required to conduct two Community Based Events (CBEs) every month.
* **Data and Monitoring:**
* Poshan Tracker is used for monitoring and tracking infrastructure and service delivery at AWCs.
* Facial Recognition System (FRS) mandatory from July 1, 2025, for Take-Home Ration (THR) distribution.
* **Recent Initiatives and Policy Decisions:**
* Integrated Nutrition Support Programme Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, Rules, 2022 regulates entitlements under the National Food Security Act, 2013.
* District Nutrition Committees (DNCs) are critical for decentralized planning and monitoring.
* Upgradation of Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) as Saksham Anganwadis with improved infrastructure and connectivity.
* Upgradation of Mini AWCs to full-fledged Anganwadi Centres.
* PM JANMAN Mission and Dharti Aaba Janjati Gram Unnat Abhiyan (DAJGUA) for targeted development in tribal areas.
Impact Analysis:
Stakeholder: States and UTs
* Impact: Responsible for implementing various activities under Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0.
* Action Required: Implement and report regular sensitization activities, ensure the conduct of Community Based Events (CBEs), and utilize the Poshan Tracker for monitoring.
Stakeholder: Anganwadi Workers
* Impact: Frontline workers responsible for service delivery and community engagement.
* Action Required: Conduct two Community Based Events every month, distribute Take-Home Ration (THR) using the Facial Recognition System (FRS) from July 1, 2025, and monitor beneficiaries through the Poshan Tracker.
Stakeholder: District Collectors / District Nutrition Committees (DNCs)
* Impact: DNCs are critical for decentralized planning, implementation, and monitoring of nutrition interventions.
* Action Required: Strengthen and institutionalize the functioning of DNCs according to the specific guidelines developed.
Stakeholder: Beneficiaries (Children, Adolescent Girls, Pregnant Women, Lactating Mothers)
* Impact: Intended recipients of nutritional support and improved services.
* Action Required: Register to receive services and participate in community-based events.
Key Entities Referenced
POSHAN 2.0: A centrally sponsored mission by the Government of India to address malnutrition.
Ministry of Women and Child Development: The Indian government ministry responsible for policies and programs related to women and children.
Uttar Pradesh: A state in India, specifically mentioned in the context of POSHAN Abhiyan and malnutrition indicators.
Anganwadi Centres: Government-run rural child care centres in India, providing basic health care and education.
National Food Security Act, 2013: An Act of the Parliament of India which aims to provide subsidized food grains to approximately two-thirds of the country's population.
Mission Saksham Anganwadi: An umbrella scheme that includes Anganwadi services, Poshan Abhiyaan, and Scheme for Adolescent girls.
National Family Health Survey: A large-scale, multi-round survey conducted in India, providing information on population, health, and nutrition.
PM JANMAN Mission: A mission launched by Ministry of Tribal Affairs for targeted development of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1061
TO BE ANSWERED ON 25.07.2025
STATUS OF ADOLESCENT GIRLS AND CHILDREN UNDER POSHAN 2.0
1061. MS. IQRA CHOUDHARY:
Will the Minister of Women and Child Development be pleased to state:
(a) the number of adolescent girls (11-14) in Uttar Pradesh under POSHAN Abhiyan,
district-wise;
(b) the details of Health-IDs created under POSHAN Abhiyaan district-wise;
(c) the number and percentage of stunted and underweight children (0-5), district wise;
(d) the details of the amount sanctioned and disbursed for nutritional support to the said
State, year-wise; and
(e) whether any special steps have been proposed to improve the nutritional
performance on stunting and underweight in the said State, if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
(SHRIMATI SAVITRI THAKUR)
(a) to (e): Under the 15th Finance Commission, various components like Anganwadi
services, Poshan Abhiyaan and Scheme for Adolescent girls (of 14-18 years in Aspirational
Districts and North-Eastern region) have been subsumed under the umbrella Mission
Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 (Mission Poshan 2.0) to address the challenge of
malnutrition. It is a Centrally Sponsored mission, where the responsibility for implementation
of various activities lies with the States and UTs. This mission is a universal self-selecting
umbrella scheme where there are no entry barriers for any beneficiary to register and
receive services. This mission is being implemented across the country.
The objectives of Mission are as follows:
To contribute to development of human capital in the country;
Address challenge of malnutrition;
Promote nutrition awareness and good eating habits for sustainable health and
wellbeingNutrition goes beyond mere eating of food; it requires proper digestion, absorption, and
metabolism of nutrients. This process is influenced by factors like sanitation, education and
access to safe drinking water. As malnutrition requires a multi-sectoral approach involving
dimensions of food, health, water, sanitation and education, it is crucial to effectively
address the issue of malnutrition in a convergent manner. It is being addressed under
Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 by establishing cross cutting convergence
amongst 18 Ministries/Departments.
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, behavioral change, and advocacy. It focuses on Maternal Nutrition, Infant and
Young Child Feeding Norms, treatment of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM)/ Moderate
Acute Malnutrition (MAM) and wellness through AYUSH practices to reduce prevalence of
wasting, stunting, anaemia and being underweight.
Under this mission, Supplementary Nutrition is provided to Children (6 months to 6 years),
Pregnant Women, Lactating Mothers and Adolescent Girls to beat the intergenerational
cycle of malnutrition by adopting a life cycle approach. Supplementary nutrition is provided
in accordance with the nutrition norms contained in Schedule-II of the National Food
Security Act. 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.
Fortified rice is being supplied to AWCs to meet the requirement of micro-nutrients and to
control anaemia among women and children. Greater emphasis is being laid on the use of
millets at least once a week for preparation of Hot Cooked Meal and Take Home ration at
Anganwadi centers.
Ministries of Women & Child Development and Health & Family Welfare have jointly
released the protocol for Community Management of Malnutrition (CMAM) to prevent and
treat severely acute malnutrition in children and for reducing associated morbidity and
mortality.
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 Maahs and
Poshan Pakhwadas 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.
Various rounds of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) conducted by Ministry of
Health & Family Welfare since 1992-93 have shown improvement in malnutrition indicators
in children across India. Details of these indicators for children since NFHS-1 to NFHS-5
are given below:NFHS Survey Stunting % Underweight % Wasting %
NFHS-1 (1992-93)* 52 53.4 17.5
NFHS-2 (1998-99)** 45.5 47 15.5
NFHS-3 (2005-6)*** 48.0 42.5 19.8
NFHS-4 (2015-16)*** 38.4 35.8 21.0
NFHS-5 (2019-21)*** 35.5 32.1 19.3
* Under 4 years
** Under 3 years
*** Under 5 years
The above table gives a representative picture of malnutrition indicators among all children
of 0-3 years, 0-4 years and 0-5 years age at the relevant time.
The projected population of all children up to 5 years in India for the year 2021 is 13.75
crores approximately (source: Population Projections for India and States 2011-2036,
National Commission on Population, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare). However, only
7.36 crores children up to 5 years were enrolled in Anganwadis and registered on Poshan
Tracker of the Ministry of Women & Child Development as per the June, 2025 data. 7 crores
of these children were measured on growth parameters of height and weight. 37.07% of
them have been found to be stunted, 15.93% have been found to be underweight and 5.46
percent wasted.
Further, the projected population of all children in India up to 6 years for the year 2021 is
approximately 16.1 crores. As per the June, 2025 data of Poshan Tracker, 8.61 crores
children (0-6 years) were enrolled in Anganwadis out of whom 8.19 crores were measured
on growth parameters of height and weight. 35.91% of these children (0-6 years) have been
found to be stunted and 16.50% children (0-6 years) have been found to be underweight.
The analysis of the above NFHS data and the Poshan Tracker data shows improvement in
malnutrition indicators in children across India.
Various steps have been taken up from time to time to ensure uninterrupted nutrition
delivery under Poshan 2.0. Following are some of the initiatives undertaken recently:
Ministry vide notification dated 12th September, 2022 issued Integrated Nutrition
Support Programme - Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan (2.0), Rules,2022 to
regulate the entitlements specified under the provisions of National Food Security
Act, 2013 for every pregnant women and lactating mother, till six months after child
birth and every child in the age group of six months to six years.
District Nutrition Committee (DNC) chaired by the District Collector is envisaged as
a critical mechanism for decentralized planning, implementation, and monitoring of
nutrition interventions under Mission POSHAN 2.0. To strengthen and institutionalize
the functioning of DNCs, specific Guidelines for District Nutrition Committees have
been developed, including suggested data templates for regular review meetings.
These guidelines aim to enhance multi-sectoral coordination, improve service
delivery, and ensure targeted actions for improving the nutritional status of women
and children at the district level. As on date, 2 lakh Anganwadi Centres have been approved to be upgraded as
Saksham Anganwadis for improved nutrition delivery and for imparting early
childhood care and development. Saksham Anganwadis are provided with better
infrastructure than the conventional Anganwadi Centres which includes internet/Wi-
Fi connectivity, LED screens, water purifier/installation of RO Machine and smart
learning equipments.
The Government has taken a policy decision to upgrade each Mini AWCs to a full-
fledged Anganwadi Centre with one worker and one helper to help in carrying out the
various responsibilities under Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0
including responsibilities related to Early Childhood Care & Education. Sanction for
upgradation of 88,716 Mini-AWCs has been issued till date.
Poshan Tracker an ICT tool has been implemented for monitoring and tracking of
infrastructure and service delivery at Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) and beneficiaries
on defined indicators.
For last mile tracking of Service Delivery, MWCD has developed Facial Recognition
System (FRS) for the distribution of Take-Home Ration to ensure that benefit is given
only to the intended beneficiary registered in Poshan Tracker. The FRS has been
made mandatory for the distribution of THR from 1st July, 2025.
The PM JANMAN Mission launched by Ministry of Tribal Affairs aims for targeted
development of 75 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) residing in 18
States and a UT. This Mission focuses on 11 critical interventions related to 9 key
Ministries including Ministry of Women and Child Development. As on date, a total
of 2500 AWCs have been approved for construction under PM JANMAN across the
country.
Ministry of Tribal Affairs has launched Dharti Aaba Janjati Gram Unnat Abhiyan
(DAJGUA) aimed at improving the socio-economic condition of tribal communities by
adopting saturation coverage of tribal families in tribal majority areas and aspirational
block ST villages. The intervention of Ministry of Women and Child Development
involves establishment of 2000 new Saksham AWCs and upgradation of 6000
existing AWCs into Saksham AWCs from FY 2024-25 to FY 2028-29.
District wise details of malnutrition indicators for the State of UP for children (0-5 years) for
the month of June, 2025 from Poshan Tracker Data are placed at Annexure 1.
The details of funds released to the State of UP under Mission Saksham Anganwadi and
Poshan 2.0 are placed at Annexure II.
District wise details of number of adolescent girls under Mission Poshan 2.0 from Poshan
Tracker data are placed at Annexure III.
*****Annexure I
ANNEXURE REFERRED IN REPLY TO PART (c) OF LOK SABHA QUESTION NO. 1061 FOR
25.07.2025 REGARDING “STATUS OF ADOLESCENT GIRLS AND CHILDREN UNDER
POSHAN 2.0” ASKED BY MS. IQRA CHOUDHARY
District wise details of malnutrition indicators for the State of UP for children (0-5 years) for the
month of June, 2025 from Poshan Tracker Data are as follows:
Stunted Wasted
S. No. District Underweight (%)
(%) (%)
1 Agra 52.6 5.42 24.01
2 Aligarh 45.27 5.54 18.36
3 Ambedkar Nagar 46.07 5.58 19.28
4 Amethi 42.5 5.23 20.47
5 Amroha 53.73 5.68 23.99
6 Auraiya 43.74 5.76 17.32
7 Ayodhya 45.64 4.76 17.98
8 Azamgarh 44.31 2.5 14.19
9 Baghpat 44.07 3.67 17.13
10 Bahraich 49.45 6.39 22.16
11 Ballia 48.46 4.65 15.1
12 Balrampur 45.3 7.53 23.63
13 Banda 59.33 5.38 29.6
14 Barabanki 50.8 6.13 24.52
15 Bareilly 54.49 3.38 20.15
16 Basti 40.23 6.03 15.68
17 Bhadohi 49.41 4.46 17.54
18 Bijnor 40.28 3.88 15.84
19 Budaun 51.07 5.85 23.06
20 Bulandshahr 48.24 3.97 18.03
21 Chandauli 44.83 2.53 14.19
22 Chitrakoot 59.48 7.2 29.14
23 Deoria 46.79 5.35 17.53
24 Etah 53.47 3.39 19.5
25 Etawah 48.99 4.58 18.23
26 Farrukhabad 52.22 4.75 21.82
27 Fatehpur 51.06 6.13 25.73
28 Firozabad 56.37 3.84 20.66
29 Gautam Buddha Nagar 37.44 5.36 14.12
30 Ghaziabad 42.3 3.11 14.27
31 Ghazipur 52.95 3.43 17.83
32 Gonda 50.55 7.89 24.33
33 Gorakhpur 46.33 6.91 20.55
34 Hamirpur 54.72 6.16 24.4335 Hapur 50.79 2.36 18.54
36 Hardoi 51.63 5.96 24.3
37 Hathras 46.34 5.47 18.32
38 Jalaun 48.15 1.67 13.57
39 Jaunpur 54.89 5.63 22.54
40 Jhansi 49.09 6.07 20.25
41 Kannauj 47.96 3.6 17.11
42 Kanpur Dehat 48.91 4.56 20.46
43 Kanpur Nagar 38.93 5.66 17.83
44 Kasganj 44.52 5.76 16.94
45 Kaushambi 50.64 4.69 19.72
46 Kushi Nagar 49.67 6 21.04
47 Lakhimpur Kheri 44.49 2.95 17.35
48 Lalitpur 51.95 7.87 26.54
49 Lucknow 51.4 5.95 23.56
50 Maharajganj 44.11 4.09 18.18
51 Mahoba 51.75 4.76 18.67
52 Mainpuri 51.57 5.64 17.1
53 Mathura 49.71 4.97 19.73
54 Mau 32.88 6.26 14.25
55 Meerut 46.96 2.35 17.3
56 Mirzapur 52.57 4.5 22.01
57 Moradabad 53.14 3.97 20.98
58 Muzaffarnagar 50.21 4.49 20.82
59 Pilibhit 51.6 4.46 18.79
60 Pratapgarh 51.05 5.75 19.14
61 Prayagraj 44.51 5.75 17.99
62 Raebareli 52.59 6.32 25.05
63 Rampur 49.52 4.82 22.44
64 Saharanpur 45.68 4.32 16.89
65 Sambhal 56.79 4.37 22.93
66 Sant Kabir Nagar 42.01 5.82 15.74
67 Shahjahanpur 46.96 4.19 19.77
68 Shamli 48.63 3.63 18.78
69 Shravasti 45.78 9.09 22.85
70 Siddharth Nagar 52.01 11.57 27.7
71 Sitapur 53.58 4.03 19.51
72 Sonbhadra 52.91 3.76 20.95
73 Sultanpur 50.82 6.44 19.84
74 Unnao 51.58 5.4 24.59
75 Varanasi 46.64 2.65 14.6ANNEXURE-II
ANNEXURE REFERRED IN REPLY TO PART (d) OF LOK SABHA QUESTION NO. 1061
FOR 25.07.2025 REGARDING “STATUS OF ADOLESCENT GIRLS AND CHILDREN
UNDER POSHAN 2.0” ASKED BY MS. IQRA CHOUDHARY
The detail of funds released to the State of UP under Mission Saksham Anganwadi and
Poshan 2.0 is as follows:
Funds released in Crores
Name of the States/UT FY FY FY FY
2021- 2022- 2023- 2024-
2022 2023 2024 2025
1. Uttar Pradesh 2407.55 2721.87 2668.69 2694.62ANNEXURE-III
ANNEXURE REFERRED IN REPLY TO PART (d) OF LOK SABHA QUESTION NO. 1061
FOR 25.07.2025 REGARDING “STATUS OF ADOLESCENT GIRLS AND CHILDREN
UNDER POSHAN 2.0” ASKED BY MS. IQRA CHOUDHARY
District wise details of number of adolescent girls under Mission Poshan 2.0 from Poshan
Tracker data as of June, 2025 are as below:
Districts Total adolescent girls
Bahraich 27122
Balrampur 17378
Chandauli 28248
Chitrakoot 9953
Fatehpur 34613
Shravasti 5136
Siddharth Nagar 22661
Sonbhadra 14756
*****