Lok Sabha Question No. 1684 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-16
Subject: Corruption in Anganwadi Centres
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Rahul Kaswan

## GOVERNEMNT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 1684

TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.12.2022

## CORRUPTION IN ANGANWADI CENTRES

## 1684. SHRI RAHUL KASWAN :

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

- (a) whether it is a fact that the large scale corruption is taking place in the quality, certification and other parameters of nutritious food being distributed at Anganwadi centres;
- (b) if so, the details thereof in Rajasthan, district-wise;
- (c) whether complaints have been received against the Women Child Development Officer  and  other  officials  regarding  deputing  Non-Governmental  Organizations and their private help groups to distribute nutritious food at Anganwadi centres;
- (d) if so, the steps proposed by the Government to check irregularities in distribution of nutritious food; and
- (e) whether  the  Government  has  made  any  policy  to  bring  transparency  in  the distribution and ensuring sufficient nutritious food to children and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (e):          Anganwadi  Services  is  a  Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme  and  the implementation,  monitoring  and  management  of  the  Scheme  is  the  responsibility  of concerned State Governments/ UT administration.

The  Supplementary  Nutrition  Programme  (SNP)  under  Anganwadi  Services  and  the POSHAN Abhiyaan are important programmes to address the issue of malnutrition in the  country.  To  ensure  that  entitlements  reach  the  intended  beneficiaries  in  a  timebound  manner  as  per  quality  and  nutritional  standards  under  these  programmes, Ministry has issued Streamlined Guidelines on 13.01.2021, covering important aspects such  as  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.The District Magistrate has been made the Nodal Point in the district  for  monitoring  nutritional  status  of  beneficiaries  and  quality  standards  of supplementary nutrition.

The guidelines provide for periodic monitoring, including surprise spot-checks, collection of samples for quality testing of supplementary nutrition provided, ensuring that  adequate  measures  for  food  safety  and  hygiene  are  followed  throughout  the supply chain for quality in service delivery and  for necessary course correction.

Under  the  'Procedure  for  Procurement',  stipulated  under  the  said  Guidelines,  the State/UT  must  introduce  transparent  processes  for  procurement  as  per  General Financial Rules 2017 and vigilance guidelines and ensure that Take-Home-Ration (not raw ration) procured conforms to technical and nutritional standards set by the Ministry. All States/UTs, have been advised that Raw Ration as Take-Home Ration (THR) is not permissible under Rules and Guidelines.  States/ UTs were also advised  to adhere to the procedures laid down in the Streamlined Guidelines dated 13.1.2021 scrupulously.

Further,  'Poshan  Tracker'  application  was  rolled  out  by  MoWCD  on  1st  March  2021 through  National  e-Governance  Division  (NeGD),  MyGov  as  a  governance  tool  to strengthen  and  bring about  transparency  in nutrition delivery  support  systems. Technology under Poshan Tracker is being leveraged for (i) dynamic identification of stunting, wasting, under-weight prevalence among children; and (ii) last mile tracking of nutrition  service  delivery.  The  POSHAN  Tracker  enables  real-time  monitoring  and tracking of all AWCs, AWWs and beneficiaries on defined indicators. Beneficiaries are Aadhaar seeded to ensure last mile tracking. The Ministry/ States/ Districts would be able to make effective timely interventions, based on the data from tracker; continuous evaluation through reputed institutions and the progress of different components.

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