Executive Summary:
As of July 22, 2025, this document addresses the training of Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) under the Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi (PBPB) initiative, launched on May 10, 2023. It details the impact of this training on nutrition and education services, performance-based incentives for AWWs and Anganwadi Helpers (AWHs), and technological support provided to AWWs, with the goal of reducing their workload.
Key Points / Main Content:
Training of Anganwadi Workers (AWWs):
* 5,62,222 AWWs have been trained under the Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi (PBPB) initiative as of July 22, 2025.
* State/UT-wise details of trained AWWs, including those from West Bengal, are in Annexure I.
* Training aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and includes specialized training through the Savitri Phule National Institute of Women and Child Development (SPNIWCD).
* Training is aligned with Navchetana and Aadharshila, emphasizing inclusive learning practices for children with disabilities.
* A Two-Tier Model is used, with State-Level Master Trainers (SLMTs) training AWWs.
Impact on Nutrition and Education Services:
* The PBPB training contributes to developing a high-quality Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) ecosystem.
* Training equips AWWs to deliver quality ECCE services, focusing on nutrition, health, responsive care, developmental milestones, and family/community engagement.
Performance-Based Incentives:
* AWWs receive ₹500/month for conducting growth measurements of at least 80% of children aged 0-6 years and completing 60% of home visits to pregnant women, lactating mothers, and children up to three years.
* AWHs receive ₹250/month for opening the Anganwadi Centre for at least 21 days a month.
Technological Support:
* The Poshan Tracker application, rolled out on March 1, 2021, monitors AWCs, AWWs, and beneficiaries.
* The application facilitates near real-time data collection for Anganwadi Services, dynamic identification of stunting, wasting and underweight prevalence among children.
* The Poshan Tracker provides counseling videos and self-learning videos for AWWs and is supported by field-level training/workshops and on-ground support.
* States/UTs have been advised to discontinue physical registers and use Poshan Tracker to reduce workload.
Impact Analysis:
Anganwadi Workers (AWWs):
* Impact: Enhanced skills and knowledge in ECCE, potential for increased income through performance-based incentives, reduced workload through technological support.
* Action Required: Actively participate in training programs, effectively use the Poshan Tracker application, meet performance targets for incentives.
Anganwadi Helpers (AWHs):
* Impact: Opportunity to earn performance-based incentives.
* Action Required: Ensure the Anganwadi Centre is open for at least 21 days a month to qualify for incentives.
Children (0-6 years), Pregnant Women, and Lactating Mothers:
* Impact: Improved nutrition and education services, better monitoring of health and growth.
* Action Required: N/A
State-Level Master Trainers (SLMTs):
* Impact: SLMTs get intensive training.
* Action Required: Train Anganwadi Workers through a three-day, interactive, hands-on module
Block and District Coordinators:
* Impact: Assist AWWs with Poshan Tracker
* Action Required: Provide on-ground handholding support to AWWs for effective usage and implementation of the Poshan Tracker.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Women and Child Development: The Indian government ministry responsible for policies and programs related to women and children.
Anganwadi Workers: Frontline community health workers in India who deliver services under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme.
Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi PBPB: An initiative launched by the Ministry of Women and Child Development on 10th May 2023 to improve nutrition and early childhood education.
West Bengal: A state in eastern India, specifically mentioned in the context of Anganwadi worker training.
National Education Policy NEP 2020: A comprehensive framework for education in India, guiding the development of early childhood care and education.
Savitri Phule National Institute of Women and Child Development SPNIWCD: An institute involved in providing specialized training to Anganwadi Workers.
Poshan Tracker: A technology application rolled out on 1st March 2021 to monitor and track Anganwadi Centres, workers, and beneficiaries, enhancing governance and transparency in nutrition delivery support systems.
Anganwadi Centres AWCs: Community-based centers in India that provide early childhood care and education, health, and nutrition services.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1037
TO BE ANSWERED ON 25.07.2025
TRAINING TO AWWS
1037. SHRI SAUMITRA KHAN:
Will the Minister of Women and Child Development be pleased to state:
(a) the total number of Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) trained under the Incremental
Learning Approach during the last three years, State-wise including West Bengal;
(b) whether the training has resulted in improved delivery of nutrition and education
services at Anganwadi Centres (AWCs), if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has implemented performance-based incentives for AWWs
and Anganwadi Helpers (AWHs), if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons
therefor; and
(d) the initiatives taken/proposed to be taken to provide technological support and reduce
the workload of AWWs?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OFWOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
(SHRIMATI SAVITRI THAKUR)
(a) As on 22nd July 2025, a total of 5,62,222 Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) have been
trained under the Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi (PBPB) initiative, which was launched on 10th
May 2023 by the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
The State/UT-wise details of AWWs trained under the initiative, including those from West
Bengal, are enclosed at Annexure-I.
(b) The training under Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi (PBPB) is contributing significantly to the
development of a high-quality Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) ecosystem with
well-trained Anganwadi Workers (AWWs), in alignment with the National Education Policy
(NEP) 2020. Anganwadi Workers are undergoing specialized training through the Savitri
Phule National Institute of Women and Child Development (SPNIWCD). This training is
aligned with Navchetana – the National Framework for Early Childhood Stimulation for
children from birth to three years – and Aadharshila – the National Curriculum for ECCE for
children aged three to six years, launched by the Ministry in 2024. Special emphasis is
placed on supporting children with disabilities (Divyang children), ensuring inclusive learning
practices. The training follows a Two-Tier Model wherein State-Level Master Trainers(SLMTs) undergo a two-day intensive training (Tier 1), who in turn train Anganwadi Workers
through a three-day, interactive, hands-on module (Tier 2). This approach equips AWWs
with the knowledge and skills to deliver quality ECCE services, focusing on nutrition, health,
responsive care, and developmental milestones; age-appropriate, joyful learning for holistic
development; and engagement with families and communities to promote early learning
environments at home. The training is expected to enhance the overall quality and impact
of services delivered through Anganwadi Centres.
(c) There is a provision of performance-based incentives for Anganwadi Workers and
Anganwadi helpers. Anganwadi workers are provided incentive of Rs. 500 per month for
conducting growth measurement of at least 80% of children in 0-6 years age group in the
month and completing at least 60% of home visits for pregnant women, lactating mothers
and children up to three years of age as per the home visit scheduler. Anganwadi helpers
are provided incentive of Rs.250 per month for opening of the Anganwadi Centre for at least
21 days in a month.
(d) IT systems have been leveraged to strengthen and bring about transparency in nutrition
delivery support systems at the Anganwadi Centres. The ‘Poshan Tracker’ application was
rolled out on 1st March 2021 as an important governance tool. The Poshan Tracker
facilitates monitoring and tracking of all AWCs, AWWs and beneficiaries on defined
indicators. Technology under Poshan Tracker is being leveraged for dynamic identification
of stunting, wasting, under-weight prevalence among children. It has facilitated near real
time data collection for Anganwadi Services such as, daily attendance, ECCE, Provision of
Hot Cooked Meal (HCM)/Take Home Ration (THR-not raw ration), Growth Measurement
etc. The App also offers counselling videos on key behaviours and services which help
disseminate messages on birth preparedness, delivery, post-natal care, breastfeeding, and
complementary feeding. Regular field level trainings/workshops are conducted directly for
Anganwadi Workers regarding use of the Poshan Tracker Application. Poshan Tracker also
features self-learning videos for AWWs, enabling continuous capacity building and on-the-
job learning through digital modules. Block and District Coordinators provide on-ground
handholding support to AWWs for effective usage and implementation of the Poshan
Tracker. Besides this, the States/UTs have also been advised to discontinue the use of
physical registers and use Poshan Tracker for reducing work load of Anganwadi workers
and improving their efficiency.
*****Annexure-I
ANNEXURE REFERRED IN REPLY TO PART (a) OF LOK SABHA QUESTION NO. 1037
FOR 25.07.2025 REGARDING “TRAINING TO AWWS” ASKED BY SHRI SAUMITRA
KHAN
The State/UT-wise details of AWWs trained under the initiative, including those from West
Bengal, are as follows:
SLMTs AWWs
Target Completed Target Completed
India 43,488 41,360 13,15,162 5,62,222
Andaman and Nicobar Islands 45 49 720 732
Andhra Pradesh 2059 2050 54,908 53321
Arunachal Pradesh 465 648 6225 1375
Assam 2353 2794 60,964 22238
Bihar 3366 2178 1,12,094 90263
Chandigarh 24 33 434 548
Chhattisgarh 2126 2009 51,245 11072
Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and 24 50 405 240
Diu
Delhi 434 581 10498 10412
Goa 65 64 1224 1148
Gujarat 2044 2127 49,884 4122
Haryana 804 808 23,902 8044
Himachal Pradesh 746 744 18,663 0
Jammu and Kashmir 1265 1244 27,543 24932
Jharkhand 862 980 37,944 11760
Karnataka 2247 2149 64,118 426
Kerala 1348 1656 33,115 15198
Ladakh 46 73 1143 1153
Lakshadweep 4 8 59 0
Madhya Pradesh 3567 2996 95,953 91458
Maharashtra 2892 2475 1,05,023 36120
Manipur 489 636 11,466 4576
Meghalaya 306 288 5896 1958
Mizoram 161 202 2244 2357
Nagaland 293 398 3980 3727
Odisha 3266 2742 73,314 8722Puducherry 19 47 595 616
Punjab 847 1184 27,075 7922
Rajasthan 1622 1644 60,874 57948
Sikkim 95 81 1308 387
Tamil Nadu 2062 1828 43,602 300
Telangana 1540 1531 33,789 0
Tripura 308 282 10,131 3192
Uttar Pradesh 3585 2132 1,59,938 46430
Uttarakhand 652 634 19,311 4882
West Bengal 2015
1457 1,05,575 34643
Total
43,488 41,360 13,15,162 5,62,222
*****