Lok Sabha Question No. 1685 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-16
Subject: Condition of Anganwadi Centres in Chhattisgarh
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Gomati Sai

## GOVERNEMNT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 1685

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.12.2022

## CONDITION OF ANGANWADI CENTRES IN CHHATTISGARH

## 1685. SHRIMATI GOMATI SAI :

Will the Minister of WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) the  efforts  being  made  to  improve  the  condition  of  the  Anganwadi  Centres  in Chhattisgarh;
- (b) the  steps  being  taken  by  the  Government  to  overcome  malnutrition  in  the country; and
- (c) the steps being taken to ensure complete food coverage in Anganwadi Centres for the boys/ girls and pregnant/lactating mothers?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

- (a):       This  Ministry  has  taken   several  measures    under  Saksham  Anganwadi  and Poshan 2.0,  (Mission  Poshan  2.0)  for  improving  infrastructure  facilities  at  Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) in all the States/UTs including Chhattisgarh:
-  Under  Saksham  Anganwadi,  2  lakh  AWCs  @  40,000  AWCs  per  year  shall  be strengthened,  upgraded  and  rejuvenated  across  the  country  for  improved  nutrition delivery and for early childhood care and development.
- Under Swachhta Action Plan, provision of drinking water facilities and construction of toilets have been made.
-   There is a provision for construction of 50,000 Anganwadi buildings in convergence with MGNREGA during 15th Finance Cycle
-  Ministry  has  also  issued  directions  to  States/UTs  to  co-locate  those  Anganwadi Centres  which  are  running  on  rent  without  sufficient  infrastructure,  with  the  nearby Primary Schools.

- States/UTs have also been advised to continue to tap funds for construction of AWC buildings  from  various  schemes  such  as  MPLADs,  MLALADS,  BRGF  (Backward Regions Grant Fund), RIDF (Rural Infrastructure Development Fund), Finance Commission Grants to Panchayati Raj Institutions, National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA), Multi-Sectoral Development Programme (MSDP) of Ministry of Minority Affairs, etc.

-  States  at  their  level  in  their  own  discretion  shall  involve  Individuals,  Companies, Business Houses and Institutions of repute and CSR funds for construction of AWCs purely on pro bono basis without any obligation. Similarly, the DMs shall encourage/mobilize  resources  for  this  purely  on  pro  bono  basis  and  without  any obligation.

In so far as Chhattisgarh is concerned, a total of 4750 Anganwadi Centres have been identified in 10 Aspirational Districts out of 40,000 AWCs identified by the Ministry for  upgradation  of  AWCs  to  Saksham  Anganwadi  Centres  in  the  current  year  and   a sum  of  Rs.1957.92  lakhs  have  been  released  by  the  Ministry  for  the  Financial  Year 2022-23 to the State Government of Chhattisgarh. Further, a sum of Rs.839.61 lakh has been  released  in  the  current  Financial  Year  for  construction  of  Toilets  in  Anganwadi Centres in the State of Chhattisgarh.

(b)        To reduce the malnutrition and anaemia in women and children arising due to deficiency of micro nutrients like Iron, Folic Acid and Vitamin B-12, under Wheat Based Nutrition Programme (WBNP) of Anganwadi Services, Fortified Rice was allocated to 21 States/UTs during the 2nd quarter of FY 2021-22 and from the 3rd quarter of FY 202122  onwards  only  Fortified  Rice  is  being  allocated  to  all  the  State/UTs,  as  envisaged Hon'ble Prime Minister's Address on 75th Independence Day. So far, under WBNP, this Ministry has allocated 731962 MTs of Fortified Rice in FY 2021-22 and 938207 MTs of Fortified rice up to third quarter of FY 2022-23 to all the States/UTs.

Further, more emphasis is being given on the supply of millets for preparation of Hot Cooked Meal and Take Home rations at Anganwadis for Pregnant Women, Lactating mothers  and  children  below  6  years  of  age,   as  millets  are  highly  nutritious  and  are known to have high nutrient content which includes protein, essential fatty acid, dietary fibre,  B-Vitamins,  minerals  such  as  calcium,  iron,  zinc,  folic  acid  and  other  micronutrients thus helping to tackle anaemia and other micro-nutrient deficiencies common among women and children. It may also be noted here that as per the Mission Saksham Anganwadi & Poshan 2.0 guidelines, millets need to be mandatorily supplied at least once a week and suitably integrated in THR and HCM in a palatable form."

(c)        Supplementary Nutrition, one of the six components under Anganwadi Services, is provided to the beneficiaries of Anganwadi Services through the network of 14 lakh Anganwadi Centres located across the country.   It is primarily designed to bridge the gap between the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) and the Average Daily Intake (ADI).   Supplementary  Nutrition  under  the  Scheme  shall  be  served  for  a  minimum  of 300  days  in  a  calendar  year  i.e  on  an  average  25  days  in  a  month  with  respect  of Morning  Snacks,  Hot  Cooked  Meals  (HCM)  and  Take-Home  Ration.   Further,  this Ministry has also vide communication dated 13.01.2021, issued streamlining guidelines to  all  States/UTs  on  quality  assurance,  roles  and  responsibilities  of  Duty  Holders, procedure  for  procurement,  integrating  AYUSH  concepts  and  data  management  and monitoring through `Poshan Tracker' for transparency, efficiency and accountability in delivery of Supplementary Nutrition.

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