Parliament Question: Upgradation of AWCs in Uttar Pradesh

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN & CHILD DEVELOPMENT LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 5739 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.03.2026 UPGRADATION OF AWCS IN UTTAR PRADESH 5739. SHRI UTKARSH VERMA MADHUR: Will the Minister of WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state: (a) whether there is any proposal with the Government to upgrade the existing Anganwadi Centres in Lakhimpur Kheri of Uttar Pradesh into 'Saksham Anganwadi'; (b) if so, the details thereof indicating the number of centres equipped with modern facilities thereunder so far; (c) the extent to which the number of Severe Acute Malnourished (SAM) and Moderate Acute Malnourished (MAM) children has reduced in Kheri district during the last two years under 'Poshan Abhiyaan 2.0'; (d) the total number of beneficiaries provided with cash incentives under this scheme during the last three years in the Kheri Parliamentary Constituency; and (e) whether any steps have been taken by the Government to further simplify the registration process, if so, the details thereof? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI SAVITRI THAKUR) (a) and (b): During the 15th Finance Commission cycle, 2 lakh Government owned Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) @ 40,000 AWCs per year are being strengthened and upgraded as Saksham Anganwadis for improved nutrition delivery and for early childhood care and development under Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0. Saksham Anganwadis are equipped with better infrastructure than the conventional Anganwadi Centres by providing LED screens, water purifier/installation of RO Machine, Poshan Vatika, ECCE and BALA Paintings etc. Prerequisites for an Anganwadi Centre to be considered for upgradation to Saksham Anagnwadi Centre includes Government owned building, availability of Electricity/power supply, drinking water facility, functional toilet and kitchen. As on date, a total of 2 Lakh AWCs have been approved for upgradation as Saksham AWCs including 613 AWCs to the District of Lakhimpur Kheri in the State of Uttar Pradesh.(c) The number of Severe Acute Malnourished (SAM) and Moderate Acute Malnourished (MAM) children in Kheri district during the last two years as per Poshan Tracker data is as below: No. of child beneficiaries Feb-24 Feb-25 Feb-26 Total Active Children measured (Height & Weight) for the Month 3,91,252 3,90,722 3,00,757 No of SAM 3,487 585 63 No of MAM 14,471 5,130 679 (d) Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 seeks to address the challenges of malnutrition in children, adolescent girls, pregnant women and lactating mothers through a strategic shift in nutrition content and delivery and by creation of a convergent eco-system to develop and promote practices that nurture health, wellness and immunity. Under the Mission, a package of six services are provided to the eligible beneficiaries i.e Supplementary Nutrition (SNP), Pre-school Non-formal Education, Nutrition & Health Education, Immunization, Health Check-up, and Referral Services. Three of the six services, viz., Immunization, Health check-up and Referral Services are related to health and are provided through National Health Mission (NHM) & Public Health Infrastructure. These services are provided to the eligible registered beneficiaries i.e children up to the age of 6 years, Pregnant Women and Lactating Mothers across the country and Adolescent Girls in the age group of 14 to 18 years in Aspirational Districts of States and all districts of North Eastern Region by through the platform of Anganwadi Centre. (e) For last mile tracking of Service Delivery, Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) has developed Facial Recognition System (FRS) 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 Pregnant Women, Lactating Mothers, and Adolescent Girls under Saksham Anganwadi and Mission Poshan 2.0. If due to any reason, the registered beneficiary (Pregnant Women, Lactating Mother and Adolescent girl) 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. *****