Lok Sabha Question No. 3027 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-08-09
Subject: New Anganwadi Kendras in Uttar Pradesh
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Shri Ram Shiromani Verma

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN & CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3027 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.08.2024

## NEW ANGANWADI KENDRAS IN UTTAR PRADESH

## †3027.  SHRI RAM SHIROMANI VERMA : Will the Minister of WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of new Anganwadi Kendras set up in the State of Uttar Pradesh during the last three years, year and  district-wise, particularly in Shravasti and Balrampur districts;
- (b) whether the Department officials conduct enquiry into the irregularities found in distribution of nutritious food items distributed by the said Kendras, if so, the details thereof along with the provisions made in this regard;
- (c) the number of complaints received by the Government so far in this regard;
- (d) the number of malnutrition cases reported so far in the country; and
- (e) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to deal with such cases?

## ANSWER

## MINISTRY OF WOMEN & CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI ANNPURNA DEVI)

(a) Under Mission Saksham Angnawadi and Poshan 2.0, a total of 190145 Anganwadi centres  have  been  sanctioned  to  the  State  of  Uttar  Pradesh  out  of  which  189021 Anganwadi centres are operational. State/ UTs have also been advised time and again to consider relocating the Anganwadi centres within the sanctioned strength to ensure better delivery of services to end beneficiaries.

(b) to (c) Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme and the  implementation  of  the  scheme  falls  under  the  ambit  of  State  Government/UT Administration. Government of India constantly monitors and reviews the scheme and its  components.  The  Scheme  is  implemented  by  the  States/UTs.  The  Central Government is responsible only for policy and planning and the State Governments are responsible for day to day program implementation and all operational aspects of the scheme. The Government of India releases funds in the prescribed cost sharing ratio to the States/UTs for implementation of the Scheme.

Streamlining  Guidelines  have  been  issued  by  Ministry  of  Women  and  Child Development  (MWCD)  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.  nutritional  status  and  quality standards  of  food  items  under  supplementary  nutrition,  transparency  is  being monitored in supply chain management at State, District and Village Level.

(d)  &  (e)  Various  rounds  of  the  National  Family  Health Survey (NFHS) conducted since 1992-93 have shown improvement in malnutrition indicators in children across India. Details of these indicators for children under 5 years since NFHS-1 to NFHS-5 are given below:

| NFHS Survey         |   Underweight % |   Wasting% |   Stunting% |
|---------------------|-----------------|------------|-------------|
| NFHS-1 (1992-93)*   |            53.4 |       17.5 |        52   |
| NFHS-2 (1998-99)**  |            47   |       15.5 |        45.5 |
| NFHS-3 (2005-6)***  |            42.5 |       19.8 |        48   |
| NFHS-4 (2015-16)*** |            35.8 |       21   |        38.4 |
| NFHS-5 (2019-21)*** |            32.1 |       19.3 |        35.5 |

* Under 4 years

- ** Under 3 years
- *** Under 5 years

The above table gives a representative picture of malnutrition indicators among all children of 0-3 years, 0-4 years and 0-5 years age at that time. The table shows that level of malnutrition among children has been generally coming down during the last 30 years.

The projected population of all children up to 5 years in India for the year 2021 is 13.75 crore  (source:  Population  Projections  for  India  and  States  2011-2036,  National Commission on Population, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare). However, only 7.65 crore children up to 5 years are enrolled in Anganwadis and registered on Poshan Tracker of the Ministry of Women & Child Development as per June 2024 data of Poshan Tracker. 7.37 crore of these children were measured on growth parameters. 36.5% of these children have been found to be stunted, 16.4% children have been found to be underweight and 6% children have been found to be wasted.

Further, the projected population of all children in India up to 6 years for the year 2021 is 16.1 crore. As per June 2024 data of Poshan Tracker, 8.91 crore children (0-6 years) are enrolled in Anganwadis out of whom 8.57 crore children were measured on growth parameters. 35.6% of these children (0-6 years) have been found to be stunted and 17.2% children (0-6 years) have been found to be underweight.

Under Mission Poshan 2.0 a strategic shift has been made for reduction in malnutrition and  for  improved  health,  wellness  and  immunity  through  community  engagement, outreach,  behavioral  change,  and  advocacy.  The  scheme  focuses  on  Maternal Nutrition,  Infant  and  Young  Child  Feeding  Norms,  treatment  of  Severe  Acute Malnutrition (SAM)/ Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM) and wellness through AYUSH practices to reduce wasting, underweight prevalence, stunting and anaemia. Immunization,  Health  Check-up,  and  Referral  Services  to  the  beneficiaries  are supported by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. Mission Poshan 2.0 in convergence with more than 18 Ministries/Departments supports and implements programmes to tackle malnutrition and promote health and wellness.

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