**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1321 regarding the upgradation of Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) in Rajasthan under the Saksham Anganwadi and Nutrition 2.0 scheme. It details the government's efforts to strengthen AWCs, enhance nutrition delivery, and implement digital monitoring using the Poshan Tracker application. The response was issued on February 6, 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Upgradation of Anganwadi Centres:**
* Two lakh AWCs located in Government buildings are being upgraded to Saksham Anganwadis, strengthening 40,000 AWCs per year.
* Upgraded AWCs receive enhanced infrastructure, including LED screens, water filtration systems, Poshan Vatika, ECCE material, and BALA paintings.
* As of January 31, 2026, 2 lakh AWCs, including 3,514 AWCs in Rajasthan, have been approved for upgradation.
* **Digital Monitoring and IT Systems:**
* IT systems, including the 'Poshan Tracker' application, have been implemented to strengthen nutrition delivery and transparency.
* The Poshan Tracker facilitates real-time data collection on AWC operations, attendance, growth monitoring, and ECCE activities.
* Regular training and self-learning videos are provided to Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) for using the Poshan Tracker.
* Facial Recognition System (FRS) has been developed in Poshan Tracker Application for distribution of Take-Home Ration.
* **Take-Home Ration (THR) Delivery:**
* The Nominee Module has been introduced in Poshan Tracker to ensure uninterrupted delivery of Take-Home Ration (THR) to beneficiaries
* If the registered beneficiary is unable to visit the Anganwadi Centre she can nominate a nominee on her behalf to receive her THR.
* **Support for Anganwadi Workers (AWWs):**
* AWWs have been provided with smartphones for data entry and Poshan Tracker use.
* Internet connectivity charges of Rs. 2000 per annum per AWC are provided to AWWs.
* Block and District Coordinators offer on-ground support for Poshan Tracker usage.
* States and UTs have been advised to discontinue physical registers.
* **Scheme Management:**
* Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 is a centrally sponsored scheme.
* The Central Government is responsible for overall planning and policy.
* State Governments/UT administrations are responsible for day-to-day implementation.
* The Ministry monitors the implementation through meetings and video conferences with States.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Anganwadi Workers (AWWs)**
* **Impact**: Increased responsibility for data entry and monitoring through the Poshan Tracker, requiring enhanced digital literacy.
* **Action Required**: Utilize smartphones and the Poshan Tracker application for data collection, attend training sessions, and seek support from Block and District Coordinators.
**Stakeholder: Children, Pregnant Women, Lactating Mothers, and Adolescent Girls (Beneficiaries)**
* **Impact**: Improved nutrition delivery through Saksham Anganwadis, real-time monitoring of nutritional status, and access to Take-Home Ration (THR).
* **Action Required**: Register in Poshan Tracker to access Take-Home Ration and nominate a beneficiary if they can't come.
**Stakeholder: State Governments/UT Administrations**
* **Impact**: Responsibility for implementing the Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 scheme at the ground level, including procurement of smartphones and provision of internet connectivity.
* **Action Required**: Manage the day-to-day implementation of the scheme, procure and distribute smartphones to AWWs, and discontinue the use of physical registers.
Key Entities Referenced
Rajasthan: Indian State where the upgradation of Anganwadi centers under Saksham Anganwadi and Nutrition 2.0 is taking place.
Mission Poshan 2.0: A centrally sponsored scheme focused on improving nutrition and early childhood care and education through Anganwadi centers.
Saksham Anganwadi: A component of Mission Poshan 2.0 focusing on strengthening Anganwadi centers through infrastructure upgrades and improved service delivery.
Poshan Tracker: A digital application used for real-time monitoring of nutritional status, growth, and service delivery within the Anganwadi system.
Anganwadi Centres: Community-based centers providing nutrition and early childhood care and education services, targeted for upgradation and digital monitoring under Mission Poshan 2.0.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 1321
TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.02.2026
UPGRADATION OF ANGANWADI CENTRES IN RAJASTHAN
1321. SHRI HANUMAN BENIWAL:
Will the Minister of Women and Child Development be pleased to state:
(a) the number and details of Anganwadi centres identified for upgradation in Rajasthan under
Saksham Anganwadi and Nutrition 2.0,
(b) whether the Government has started digital monitoring of nutritional status, growth and
increase in children through the Poshan Tracker, if so, the details thereof;
(c) the steps taken to ensure adequate training for enabling Anganwadi workers to make digital
data entry;
(d) whether any infrastructure audit been conducted to assess the status of physical
infrastructure of Anganwadi centres; and
(e) if so, the time frame set for making all Anganwadi centres fully functional with smart
facilities?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
(SHRIMATI ANNPURNA DEVI)
(a) to (e): Under Mission Poshan 2.0, two lakh Anganwadi Centres located in Government
buildings @ 40,000 AWCs per year are strengthened as Saksham Anganwadis for delivery of
improved nutrition and for Early Childhood Care and Education in the 15th Finance Commission
cycle. Saksham Anganwadis are provided with better infrastructure than the conventional
Anganwadi centres with LED screens, water filtration system, Poshan Vatika, ECCE material and
BALA paintings. As on 31.01.2026, a total of 2 lakh AWCs including 3,514 AWCs for the State
of Rajasthan have been approved for upgradation across the country as Saksham Anganwadis.
Under Saksham Anganwadi and Mission Poshan 2.0, IT systems have been leveraged to strengthen
and bring about transparency in nutrition delivery support systems at the Anganwadi Centres
(AWCs). ‘Poshan Tracker’ application was rolled out as an important governance tool under the
Mission.It facilitates monitoring and tracking of all AWCs, Anganwadi Workers (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, opening and closing of AWCs, daily
attendance of children, growth monitoring of children, Early Childhood Care & Education (ECCE)
activities, Delivery 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 of child, post-natal care, breastfeeding
and complementary feeding. Regular field level trainings/workshops are conducted directly for
AWWs 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.
Further, for last mile tracking of Service Delivery, Facial Recognition System (FRS) has been
developed in Poshan Tracker Application for distribution of Take-Home Ration to ensure that
benefit is given only to the intended beneficiary registered in Poshan Tracker.
The Nominee Module has been introduced in Poshan Tracker to ensure uninterrupted delivery of
Take-Home Ration (THR) to the beneficiaries; Pregnant Women, Lactating Mothers, and
Adolescent Girls. If due to any reason, the registered beneficiary is unable to visit the Anganwadi
Centre to receive their THR through FRS, she can nominate a nominee on her behalf to receive
her THR. Nominee has to undergo e-KYC only ONCE. But face matching will be done every time
for receiving THR on behalf of the beneficiary. Even after addition of the nominee, beneficiary
can still receive the THR at the Anganwadi Center if the nominee has not received it already.
Under the Mission, AWWs have been provided with smartphones procured by States/UTs on a
cost sharing basis for data entry and use of Poshan Tracker application. All AWWs, supervisors
and block coordinators are provided with internet connectivity charges at the rate of Rs. 2000 per
annum per AWC.
Block and District Coordinators provide on-ground handholding support to AWWs for effective
usage of the Poshan Tracker and resolution of technical glitches. Besides this, the States and UTs
have also been advised to discontinue the use of physical registers.
Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 is a Centrally Sponsored scheme.
Central Government is responsible for the overall planning and policy under the scheme whereas
its day to day implementation falls under the ambit of State Government or UT administration.
Additionally, the Ministry also monitors the implementation of scheme including infrastructure
facilities at anganwadi centres through meetings and VCs with the States at various levels.
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