Lok Sabha Question No. 1742 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-16
Subject: Social Security Programmes
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Kalyan Banerjee

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1742

TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.12.2022

## SOCIAL SECURITY PROGRAMMES

## 1742.  SHRI KALYAN BANERJEE:

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

- a.  whether  the  Government  has  reduced  allocation  for  crucial  social  security programmes  for  women  and  children  including  27  per  cent  cut  for  POSHAN Scheme despite the challenges faced by women due to the pandemic, if so, the reaction of the Government thereto;
- b.  whether the budget for children is also lower by over 2.43 per cent against the demand thereof  and  if  so,  the  action  proposed  for  saving  lives  and  improving quality of life and health of women and children; and
- c. whether  it  is  a  fact  that  the  prevalence  of  anaemia  among  girls  of  age  15-19 years increased from 54 per cent in 2015-16 to 59 per cent in 2019-21 while for boys it increased from 29 per cent to 30 per cent and if so, the corrective steps taken in this regard?

## ANSWER

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

- a. For better implementation of the schemes and to ensure improved quality of lives of women  and  children,  presently  in  the  XVth  Finance  Commission  Cycle,  all  the schemes of the Ministry have been clubbed under three umbrella verticals, viz. (i) Mission Shakti, for the safety, protection and empowerment of women; (ii) Mission Vatsalya, for the protection and welfare of children; and (iii) Saksham Anganwadi and  Poshan  2.0  (Mission  Poshan  2.0)  for  improving  nutrition  indicators  in  the country with enhanced outlay. Poshan Abhiyan has been aligned with Anganwadi Services, Supplementary Nutrition and Scheme for Adolescent Girls under Mission POSHAN  2.0There  has  been  an  increase  in  the  budgetary  allocation  for  these programmes  for women and children as per details given below:

.

(Rs. in Crore)

| S.No.   | SCHEMES                          |   BE 2021-22 |   BE 2022-23 |
|---------|----------------------------------|--------------|--------------|
| 1.      | Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 |        20105 |     20263.1  |
| 2.      | Mission Vatsalya                 |          900 |      1472.17 |
| 3.      | Mission Shakti                   |         3109 |      3184.11 |
|         | Total                            |        24114 |     24919.3  |

- b.  The  scheme  specific  for  children  is  under  Mission  Vatsalya  where  the  budget outlay  has  increased  from  Rs.  900  crores  to  Rs.  1472.17  crores  (i.e.  63.57% increase).
- c. The  prevalence  of  anemia  among  girls  aged  15-19  years  has  increased  from 54.1% in 2015-16 (NFHS-4) to 59.1% in 2019-20 (NFHS-5), while for the boys aged 15- 19 years, it has increased from 29.2% in 2015-16 to 31.1% in 2019-20.

Government  has  accorded  high  priority  to  the  issue  of  malnutrition  and  is  making serious  efforts  to  address  this  issue.  Under  Poshan  Abhiyan,  anemia  control  and prevention  is  one  of  the  key  elements  of Poshan  ke  Paanch  Sutras .  Jan  Andolan/ Bhagidari is a key plank of Poshan Abhiyan to bring about awareness and behaviour change  towards  good  nutrition  practices.  Under  Jan  Andolan, Poshan  Maah is conducted every year in September and Poshan Pakhwada is conducted every year in March. During Poshan Pakhwada 2022, close to 14.79 lakh activities were conducted and  during  Poshan  Maah   Sepember  2022,  close  to  48.77  lakh  activities  were conducted across the country on anemia sensitization and screening etc.

Further,  the  Government  of  India  has  launched  Anemia  Mukt  Bharat  (AMB)  strategy with  the  target  to  reduce  anemia  in  women,  children  and  adolescents  through  a  life cycle approach. The 6x6x6 strategy under AMB implies six age groups, six interventions and  six  institutional  mechanisms.  The  six  interventions  under  Anemia  Mukt  Bharat strategy  include,  Prophylactic  Iron  Folic  Acid  Supplementation,  Periodic  de-worming, Intensified  year-round  Behaviour  Change  Communication  Campaign,  Testing  and treatment of anemia, using digital methods and point of care treatment, Convergence and coordination with other line departments and ministries for strengthening implementation  etc

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