Parliament Question: Status of ICDS and Poshan programmes in Odisha

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT RAJYA SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *354 TO BE ANSWERED ON 25.03.2026 STATUS OF ICDS AND POSHAN PROGRAMMES IN ODISHA *354. DR. SASMIT PATRA: Will the Minister of WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state: (a) whether Government is aware that districts such as Kandhamal, Malkangiri, Gajapati and Mayurbhanj report high levels of malnutrition, anaemia and anganwadi vacancie; (b) the details of ICDS and Poshan- related infrastructure and staffing in these districts; and (c) whether Government proposes targeted nutritional interventions, improved anganwadi buildings and enhanced monitoring for vulnerable women and children in Odisha’s tri bal regions? ANSWER MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI ANNPURNA DEVI) (a) to (c) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House. *****STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (A) TO (C) OF RAJYA SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 354 TO BE ANSWERED ON 25.03.2026 REGARDING “STATUS OF ICDS AND POSHAN PROGRAMMES IN ODISHA” (a) to (c) Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD) work towards addressing the challenges of Malnutrition in the country and does that in collaboration with other Ministries following a whole of a government approach. Anganwadi services, Poshan Abhiyaan and Scheme for Adolescent girls were subsumed under Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 in 2021. It is a Centrally Sponsored Mission where the responsibility for implementation of various activities lies with the States and UTs. This Mission covers beneficiaries; Children under 6 years of age, Pregnant women, Lactating mothers and Adolescent girls (14-18 years, in Northeastern States and Aspirational Districts) of the country. The Ministry captures real time data of Malnutrition indicators on Poshan Tracker digital Application which is an ICT tool, launched for monitoring and tracking of all Anganwadi Centres (AWCs), Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) and beneficiaries on defined indicators. It ensures that benefits are given only to the intended beneficiaries. The district wise information on malnutrition among children (0-5 years) in Kandhamal, Malkangiri, Gajapati and Mayurbanj districts of Odisha is available on the Poshan Tracker public dashboard at the given link: https://www.poshantracker.in/statistics. Further, said districts wise details of vacancies under the Mission for the State of Odisha are placed at Annexure 1 and said districts wise details of infrastructure placed at Annexure 2. The data related to anaemia of the said districts is available at the link: https://www.nfhsiips.in/nfhsuser/index.php The Government has taken various steps to address nutrition related issues, upgradation of Anganwadi infrastructure and enhance monitoring for vulnerable women and children in the country including Odisha’s tribal regions as below: • 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 which are more comprehensive and balanced in terms of both quantity and quality and are based on the principles of diet diversity. The Government of Odisha is providing chhatua, eggs, ladoos and chikkis as major food items to the beneficiaries under Supplementary Nutrition Programme. Also, the State of Odisha provides one egg daily for 16 weeks to the Severely Acute Malnourished (SAM) children without medical complications, while children with complications are referred to Nutrition Rehabilitation Centres (NRCs). Severely Underweight (SUW) and Moderately Acute Malnourished (MAM) children are provided additional nutrition such as besan-atta premix, bananas & eggs for 75 days and Pregnant Women & Lactating mothers, adolescent girls are also provided nutrient-rich supplementary food items. • Under Mission Poshan 2.0, there is a provision of Saksham Anganwadi Centres which refers to an upgraded and modern version of the traditional Anganwadi Centre equipped with modern digital software and hardware infrastructure including internet/wifi connectivity, LED screens, water purifier/installation of RO machines and smart learning aids, audio-visual aids, child-friendly learning equipment and artwork(educational painting, practice board for children, information board). 2 lakh AWCs have been approved for upgradation for five years under Mission Poshan 2.0. In addition, the Ministry releases funds to all States and UTs for procurement of Smart Phones and Growth Monitoring Devices (Infantometer, Stadiometer, Weighing Scale- Infant and Weighing Scale-Mother & Child for height and weight measurement of the beneficiaries) for data entry by the Anganwadi Workers in the Poshan Tracker application for better monitoring. • Also, MoWCD and Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) have jointly released the Protocol for Management of Malnutrition in Children to prevent and treat severely acute malnutrition in children. • MoHFW has set up Nutrition Rehabilitation centers (NRCs) at public health facilities to provide in-patient medical and nutritional care to children under 5 years suffering from Moderate and Severe Acute Malnourishment with medical complications. • MoHFW also observe Village Health Sanitation and Nutrition Days (VHSNDs) for provision of maternal and child health services and creating awareness on maternal and childcare including nutrition in convergence with MoWCD. • The Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN) of Ministry of Tribal Affairs aims for targeted development of 75 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in 18 States and a UT. In Odisha, opening of 89 Anganwadi Centres in PVTG areas has been approved by the Ministry, out of which 50 are under construction and 9 have been completed. • One Stop Centres (OSC) under Mission Shakti provides integrated and immediate support and assistance under one roof to women affected by violence and those in distress, both in private and public spaces all across the country. As on date, 34 OSCs are operational in Odisha, out of which one OSC is operational in each of the districts of Kandhamal, Malkangiri and Gajapati, and two OSCs are operational in the district of Mayurbhanj, which have assisted over 43,026 women in the State. • Women Helpline (WHL-181) provides 24-hour toll-free telecommunication service to support women in both emergency and non-emergency by providing information about government schemes and services. It is integrated with Emergency Response Support System ERSS-112. Till 28th February 2026, WHLs have assisted over 75.6 thousand women including vulnerable women in tribal regions in the State of Odisha. • Under the overarching ‘Mission Shakti’, ‘Shakti Sadan Scheme is an Integrated Relief and Rehabilitation Home for women in distress situations including trafficked women, which aims at creating a safe and enabling environment. Presently, 413 Shakti Sadans are functional benefiting about 13,000 women across the country. In Odisha, 68 Shakti Sadan are functional benefiting about 2,893 women, out of which three are operational in Gajapati (women benefitted 132), two in Kandhamal (women benefitted 71), one in Malkangiri (women benefitted 25) and three in Mayurbhanj (women benefitted 140), in December 2025. • Sakhi Niwas Scheme (Working Women Hostel) under the overarching Mission Shakti, is a demand driven Centrally Sponsored Scheme, under which funds are released directly to the States and UTs for implementation of the scheme. The scheme aims to promote availability of safe and conveniently located accommodation for working women in urban, semi-urban and in rural areas where employment opportunity for women exists. Presently, 560 Sakhi Niwas are functional benefiting about 25,855 women across the country. In Odisha, 11 Sakhi Niwas, are functional benefiting about 431, out of which 1 is operational in Mayurbhanj district. *****Annexure 1 Details of staff vacancies under the Mission in said districts of Odisha Districts Anganwadi Work Anganwadi Helpe CDPO ICDS Supervisors ers rs Sancti In Positi Sanction In Positi Sanction In Positi Sanction In Positi oned on ed on ed on ed on Gajapati 7 7 87 39 2443 2433 2443 2147 Kandhamal 12 12 82 51 2198 2181 2198 2154 Malkangiri 7 7 52 27 1324 1306 1324 1213 Mayurbhanj 26 25 192 74 5153 5085 5153 5046Annexure 2 Details of Anganwadi Centres in said districts of Odisha Districts Total AWCs Kandhamaal 2198 Malkangiri 1324 Gajapati 2443 Maryubhanj 5153 *****