**Executive Summary**
This document details the strengthening of Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) under Mission Poshan 2.0, which aims to improve nutrition delivery and early childhood care. The key initiative involves upgrading two lakh AWCs located in government buildings at a rate of 40,000 AWCs per year and leveraging IT systems for transparency. The document also highlights the introduction of the Nominee Module in Poshan Tracker to ensure uninterrupted delivery of Take-Home Ration (THR).
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Saksham Anganwadis Enhancement:**
* Two lakh AWCs in government buildings are being upgraded under Mission Poshan 2.0, aiming for 40,000 AWCs annually.
* Upgraded Saksham Anganwadis receive better infrastructure, including LED screens, water filtration systems, Poshan Vatika, ECCE material, and BALA paintings.
* As of 31.01.2026, 2 lakh AWCs, including 3,514 in Rajasthan, have been approved for upgrades.
* **Poshan Tracker Application:**
* 'Poshan Tracker' is implemented as a key governance tool for monitoring AWCs, Anganwadi Workers (AWWs), and beneficiaries.
* The application facilitates real-time data collection on various Anganwadi Services like attendance, growth monitoring, and delivery of meals.
* It also offers counselling videos and self-learning modules for AWWs to enhance their capacity.
* **Take-Home Ration (THR) Delivery:**
* A Facial Recognition System (FRS) is integrated into Poshan Tracker for last-mile tracking of THR distribution.
* The Nominee Module allows registered beneficiaries unable to visit the AWC to nominate someone to receive THR on their behalf.
* Nominees undergo e-KYC once, with face matching required at each THR collection.
* **AWW Support and Resources:**
* AWWs are provided with smartphones for data entry and Poshan Tracker use.
* AWWs, supervisors, and block coordinators receive Rs. 2000 per annum for internet connectivity.
* Block and District Coordinators offer on-ground support to AWWs for technical assistance.
* **Scheme Governance:**
* Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 is a Centrally Sponsored scheme.
* The Central Government oversees overall planning and policy, while State Governments/UTs handle day-to-day implementation.
* The Ministry monitors implementation through meetings and VCs with the States.
* States and UTs have been advised to discontinue physical registers.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Anganwadi Workers (AWWs)**
* **Impact:** AWWs are central to the implementation, requiring them to use the Poshan Tracker app, provide data, and participate in training.
* **Action Required:** AWWs must utilize smartphones and internet connectivity for data entry, attend training sessions, and offer counselling to beneficiaries, as well as become conversant with the Poshan Tracker Application.
**Stakeholder: Beneficiaries (Pregnant Women, Lactating Mothers, Adolescent Girls)**
* **Impact:** Beneficiaries will receive improved nutrition and uninterrupted Take-Home Ration (THR) through FRS and the Nominee Module.
* **Action Required:** Beneficiaries unable to visit the Anganwadi Centre must nominate someone to receive THR on their behalf and cooperate with the FRS system.
**Stakeholder: State Governments/UT Administrations**
* **Impact:** Responsible for the implementation and day-to-day administration of the scheme.
* **Action Required:** Provide smartphones and internet connectivity to AWWs, discontinue physical registers, and ensure proper implementation of the scheme.
**Stakeholder: Central Government**
* **Impact:** Central Government is responsible for overall planning and policy
* **Action Required:** Monitor the implementation of the scheme, review policy and provide funds.
**Stakeholder: Block and District Coordinators**
* **Impact:** Expected to provide on-ground handholding support to AWWs for effective usage of the Poshan Tracker and resolution of technical glitches.
* **Action Required:** Provide on-ground handholding support to AWWs for effective usage of the Poshan Tracker and resolution of technical glitches.
Key Entities Referenced
Mission Poshan 2.0: A centrally sponsored scheme aimed at improving nutrition and early childhood care through Anganwadi Centres.
Anganwadi Centres (AWCs): Government-run centres providing early childhood care, nutrition, and health services at the community level.
Poshan Tracker: A technology application used for monitoring and tracking Anganwadi services, beneficiaries, and nutrition indicators.
Ministry of Women and Child Development: The central ministry responsible for planning and policy related to Mission Poshan 2.0.
Ministry of Women and Child Development
Two lakh Anganwadi Centres located in
Government buildings @ 40,000 AWCs per year
are strengthened as Saksham Anganwadis under
Mission Poshan 2.0
IT systems leveraged to strengthen and bring about
transparency in nutrition delivery support systems
Nominee Module introduced in Poshan Tracker to ensure
uninterrupted delivery of Take-Home Ration
Posted On: 06 FEB 2026 3:49PM by PIB Delhi
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.
This information was given by the Union Minister for Women and Child Development Smt. Annpurna
Devi in Lok Sabha in reply to a question today.
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SS
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