Lok Sabha Question No. 15 (STARRED), answered on 2024-02-02
Subject: Saksham Anganwadi
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Ramesh Chander Kaushik, Jugal Kishore Sharma

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. *15 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.02.2024

## SAKSHAM ANGANWADI

- *15.    SHRI RAMESH CHANDER KAUSHIK: SHRI JUGAL KISHORE SHARMA:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  strengthening  and  upgrading  the  Anganwadi Centres to provide better nutrition and 'Early Childhood Care and Education', if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the difference/change between conventional Anganwadis and new Saksham Anganwadis along with the number of Saksham Anganwadis set up particularly in Sonipat Lok Sabha Constituency in Haryana, Jammu in Jammu & Kashmir, Amrawati in Maharashtra, Sitamarhi, Sheohar, East Champaran and Bhagalpur in Bihar, West Singhbhum district of Jharkhand and Bishnupur in West Bengal;
- (c) the  details  of  the  proposals  received  by  the  Government  to  open  such Anganwadis in the above said States, State/UT wise;
- (d) whether the Government has achieved success in the objectives of Saksham Anganwadis and POSHAN 2.0 campaign in these States, if so, the details and outcome thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (e) the details of funds released and utilised to achieve the objectives of Saksham Anganwadis and POSHAN 2.0 campaign particularly in above said districts during the last three years, district wise and year wise?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (e) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

*****

## Statement referred to in reply to Part  (a) to (e) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 15 to be answered on 02.02.2024 regarding 'Saksham Anganwadi'

(a) to (c)    During the 15 th  Finance Commission cycle, 2 lakh Anganwadi Centres @ 40,000 AWCs per year are to be upgraded as Saksham Anganwadis for improved nutrition delivery and for early childhood care and development. Saksham Anganwadis are  proposed  to  be  provided  with  better  infrastructure  than  the  conventional Anganwadi  Centres  by  construction  of  new  buildings  as  well  as  up-gradation  of existing buildings including internet/Wi-Fi connectivity, LED screens, water purifier/installation of RO Machine and installation of Rain Water Harvesting System. These  Centres  are  to  be  equipped  with  audio-visual  aids  and  child-friendly  smart learning equipment to facilitate joyful learning along with shishu table, floor mat/Dari, weighing scale, ECCE books, wall painting and Poshan Vatikas depending on the availability of space.

The upgradation of conventional Anganwadi to Saksham Anganwadi was done on the basis of proposals received from States/UTs only for aspirational districts for FY 202223. The number of Anganwadis approved for upgradation to Saksham Anganwadi as per the proposals received from the States of Haryana, Jharkhand, Bihar, Maharashtra, West Bengal and Jammu & Kashmir during FY 2022-23 is placed at Annexure I .

(d)       The Government has accorded high priority to the issue of malnutrition and is implementing several schemes/programmes  of  different Ministries/Departments through States/UTs to address various aspects related to nutrition. The efforts under the  Supplementary  Nutrition  Programme  under  Anganwadi  Services  and  Poshan Abhiyaan have been realigned and converged as 'Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0' (Mission Poshan 2.0). In the 15 th  FC, components of nutritional support for children below the age of 6 years, pregnant women and lactating mothers, Adolescent Girls (14  -  18  years);  Early  Childhood  Care  and  Education  [3-6  years];  Anganwadi infrastructure  including  modern,  upgraded  Saksham Anganwadi, Poshan Abhiyaan and Scheme for Adolescent Girls have been reorganised under Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 (Mission Poshan 2.0). Mission Poshan 2.0 focuses on Maternal Nutrition, Infant and Young Child Feeding Norms, Treatment of MAM/SAM and Wellness through Ayush practices to reduce wasting and under-weight prevalence besides stunting and anaemia.

It  seeks  to  address  the  challenges  of  malnutrition  in  children,  adolescent  girls, pregnant women and lactating mothers through a strategic shift in nutrition content and delivery  and by  creation  of  a  convergent  eco-system  to  develop  and  promote practices that nurture health, wellness and immunity.

Under Mission Poshan 2.0, Supplementary nutrition is provided to beneficiaries 300 days in a year through the network of 13.97 lakh AWCs located across the country for bridging the gap in the intake as compared to the recommended dietary intake. Only fortified rice is being supplied to AWCs to meet the requirement of micro nutrient and control anaemia among women and children. Greater emphasis is being given on the use of millets for preparation of Hot Cooked Meal and Take Home Rations (THR) (not raw food material) at Anganwadi Centres for children below 6 years of age, Pregnant Women, Lactating Mothers.

The objectives of Poshan 2.0 are as follows:

- a.  To contribute to human capital development of the country;
- b.  Address challenges of malnutrition;
- c.  Promote nutrition awareness and good eating habits for sustainable health and well-being; and
- d.  Address nutrition related deficiencies through key strategies.

Steps have been taken to improve nutritional quality and testing in accredited labs, strengthen  delivery  and  leverage  technology  under  Poshan  Tracker  to  improve governance. States/UTs have been advised to promote use of AYUSH systems for prevention of malnutrition and related diseases. A programme to support development of  Poshan  Vatikas  at  Anganwadi  Centres  to  meet  dietary  diversity  gap  leveraging traditional knowledge in nutritional practices has also been taken up.

Streamlining Guidelines have been issued by 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.

As per the report of NFHS-5 (2019-21), the nutrition indicators for children under 5 years of age across the country have shown an improving trend as compared with NFHS-4 (2015-16). Wasting percentage has declined from 21% (NFHS-4) to 19.3 % (NFHS-5), Percentage of under-weight children has reduced from 35.7% (NFHS-4) to 32.1% (NFHS-5) and stunting indicator has shown a decline from 38.4% (NFHS-4) to 35.5% (NFHS-5). As per the data of Poshan Tracker for the month of December 2023, around 8.91 crore children under 6 years were measured, out of whom 36% were found to be stunted and 17% were found to be underweight and 6% children under 5 years were found to be wasted. The levels of underweight and wasting obtained from Poshan  Tracker  data  are  much  less  than  that  projected  by  NFHS  5.  State  wise prevalence of stunting, wasting and underweight among children under five years of age as per National Family Health Survey (NFHS) among the above States is placed at Annexure II.

(e)        Funds for Saksham Anganwadi and POSHAN 2.0 are released for States/UTs. The  State  wise  details  of  funds  released  and  utilised  to  achieve  the  objectives  of Saksham Anganwadis and POSHAN 2.0 campaign particularly in above said districts during the last three years, year wise is placed at Annexure III .

********

## Statement referred to in reply to Part  (a) to (c) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 15 to be answered on 02.02.2024 regarding 'Saksham Anganwadi'

Annexure I

## State wise approved AWCs for Upgradation to Saksham AWCs for the FY 2022-23

| S. No.   | State (2)         | District (3)   |   Approved Saksham AWCs FY 2022-23 (4) | TOTAL (STATE- WISE)   |
|----------|-------------------|----------------|----------------------------------------|-----------------------|
| 1        |                   | Araria         |                                    200 |                       |
| 1        |                   | Aurangabad     |                                    300 |                       |
| 1        |                   | Banka          |                                    450 |                       |
| 1        |                   | Begusarai      |                                    100 |                       |
| 1        |                   | Gaya           |                                    747 |                       |
| 1        |                   | Jamui          |                                    334 |                       |
| 1        | Bihar             | Katihar        |                                    300 | 3566                  |
| 1        |                   | Khagaria       |                                    100 | 3566                  |
| 1        |                   | Muzaffarpur    |                                    350 | 3566                  |
| 1        |                   | Nawada         |                                    300 | 3566                  |
| 1        |                   | Purnia         |                                    187 | 3566                  |
| 1        |                   | Sheikhpura     |                                     98 | 3566                  |
| 1        |                   | Sitamarhi      |                                    100 | 3566                  |
| 2        | Haryana           | Mewat          |                                     10 | 10                    |
| 3        | Jammu And Kashmir | Baramulla      |                                     36 | 86                    |
|          | Jammu And Kashmir | Kupwara        |                                     50 | 86                    |
|          | Jammu And Kashmir | Bokaro         |                                    400 | 86                    |
|          | Jammu And Kashmir | Chatra         |                                    350 | 86                    |
|          | Jammu And Kashmir | Dumka          |                                    400 | 86                    |
|          | Jammu And Kashmir | East Singhbum  |                                    300 | 86                    |
|          | Jammu And Kashmir | Garhwa         |                                    200 | 86                    |
|          | Jammu And Kashmir | Giridih        |                                    600 | 86                    |
|          | Jammu And Kashmir | Godda          |                                    500 | 86                    |
|          | Jammu And Kashmir | Gumla          |                                    450 | 86                    |
|          | Jammu And Kashmir | Hazaribagh     |                                    400 | 86                    |
| 4        | Jharkhand         | Khunti         |                                    200 | 6850                  |
|          | Jharkhand         | Latehar        |                                    300 | 6850                  |
|          | Jharkhand         | Lohardaga      |                                    250 | 6850                  |
|          | Jharkhand         | Pakur          |                                    300 | 6850                  |
|          | Jharkhand         | Palamu         |                                    300 | 6850                  |
|          | Jharkhand         | Ramgarh        |                                    150 | 6850                  |
|          | Jharkhand         | Ranchi         |                                    600 | 6850                  |
|          | Jharkhand         | Sahebganj      |                                    250 | 6850                  |
|          | Jharkhand         | Simdega        |                                    300 | 6850                  |
|          | Jharkhand         | West Singhbhum |                                    600 | 6850                  |

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| 5     | Maharashtra   | Gadchiroli       |   350 |   1150 |
|-------|---------------|------------------|-------|--------|
| 5     | Maharashtra   | Nandurbar        |   100 |   1150 |
| 5     | Maharashtra   | Osmanabad        |   400 |   1150 |
| 5     | Maharashtra   | Washim           |   300 |   1150 |
| 6     | West Bengal   | Birbhum          |  1300 |   4750 |
| 6     | West Bengal   | Dinajpur Dakshin |   700 |   4750 |
| 6     | West Bengal   | Maldah           |   650 |   4750 |
| 6     |               | Murshidabad      |  1500 |   4750 |
| 6     |               | Nadia            |   600 |   4750 |
| Total | Total         | Total            | 16412 |  16412 |

## Statement referred to in reply to Part (d) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 15 to be answered on 02.02.2024 regarding 'Saksham Anganwadi'

Annexure II

State/UT wise prevalence of stunting, wasting and underweight among children under five years of age as per National Family Health Survey (NFHS)

| S. No .   | Name of State/UT   | Stunting (%)     | Stunting (%)     | Wasting (%)      | Wasting (%)      | Underweight (%)   | Underweight (%)   |
|-----------|--------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|-------------------|-------------------|
| S. No .   | Name of State/UT   | NHFS 4 (2015-16) | NHFS 5 (2019-21) | NHFS 4 (2015-16) | NHFS 5 (2019-21) | NHFS 4 (2015-16)  | NHFS 5 (2019-21)  |
| INDIA     | INDIA              | 38.4             | 35.5             | 21               | 19.3             | 35.8              | 32.1              |
| 1         | Bihar              | 48.3             | 42.9             | 20.8             | 22.9             | 43.9              | 41                |
| 2         | Haryana            | 34               | 27.5             | 21.2             | 11.5             | 29.4              | 21.5              |
| 3         | Jammu & Kashmir    | 27.4             | 26.9             | 12.1             | 19               | 16.6              | 21                |
| 4         | Jharkhand          | 45.3             | 39.6             | 29               | 22.4             | 47.8              | 39.4              |
| 5         | Maharashtr a       | 34.4             | 35.2             | 25.6             | 25.6             | 36                | 36.1              |
| 6         | West Bengal        | 32.5             | 33.8             | 20.3             | 20.3             | 31.6              | 32.2              |

## Statement referred to in reply to Part  (e) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 15 to be answered on 02.02.2024 regarding 'Saksham Anganwadi'

Annexure III

| Funds released under Saksham Anganwadi and POSHAN 2.0 for the year 2020-21 (As on 31.03.2021)   | Funds released under Saksham Anganwadi and POSHAN 2.0 for the year 2020-21 (As on 31.03.2021)   | Funds released under Saksham Anganwadi and POSHAN 2.0 for the year 2020-21 (As on 31.03.2021)   | Funds released under Saksham Anganwadi and POSHAN 2.0 for the year 2020-21 (As on 31.03.2021)   |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| S.No                                                                                            | STATE                                                                                           | Fund released                                                                                   | (Rupees in lakhs) Fund Utilised                                                                 |
| 1                                                                                               | 2                                                                                               | 3                                                                                               | 4                                                                                               |
| 1                                                                                               | BIHAR                                                                                           | 127059.58                                                                                       | 137694.60                                                                                       |
| 2                                                                                               | HARYANA                                                                                         | 18113.67                                                                                        | 21500.70                                                                                        |
| 3                                                                                               | JAMMU & KASHMIR                                                                                 | 28902.02                                                                                        | 40696.95                                                                                        |
| 4                                                                                               | JHARKHAND                                                                                       | 45784.76                                                                                        | 32833.91                                                                                        |
| 5                                                                                               | MAHARASHTRA                                                                                     | 118783.20                                                                                       | 143585.70                                                                                       |
| 6                                                                                               | WEST BENGAL                                                                                     | 104720.89                                                                                       | 89789.29                                                                                        |
|                                                                                                 | Grand Total                                                                                     | 443364.12                                                                                       | 466101.15                                                                                       |

| Funds released under Saksham Anganwadi and POSHAN 2.0 for the year 2021-22 (As on 31.03.2022)   | Funds released under Saksham Anganwadi and POSHAN 2.0 for the year 2021-22 (As on 31.03.2022)   | Funds released under Saksham Anganwadi and POSHAN 2.0 for the year 2021-22 (As on 31.03.2022)   | Funds released under Saksham Anganwadi and POSHAN 2.0 for the year 2021-22 (As on 31.03.2022)   |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| S.No                                                                                            | STATE                                                                                           | Fund released                                                                                   | (Rupees in lakhs) Fund Utilised                                                                 |
| 1                                                                                               | 2                                                                                               | 3                                                                                               | 4                                                                                               |
| 1                                                                                               | BIHAR                                                                                           | 157443.07                                                                                       | 160801.5                                                                                        |
| 2                                                                                               | HARYANA                                                                                         | 17303.35                                                                                        | 14698.8                                                                                         |
| 3                                                                                               | JAMMU & KASHMIR                                                                                 | 40573.74                                                                                        | 98461.76                                                                                        |
| 4                                                                                               | JHARKHAND                                                                                       | 35297.77                                                                                        | 39797.9                                                                                         |
| 5                                                                                               | MAHARASHTRA                                                                                     | 171338.93                                                                                       | 17793.83                                                                                        |
| 6                                                                                               | WEST BENGAL                                                                                     | 66835.22                                                                                        | 38667.93                                                                                        |
|                                                                                                 | Grand Total                                                                                     | 488792.08                                                                                       | 370221.72                                                                                       |

| Funds released under Saksham Anganwadi and POSHAN 2.0 for the year 2022-23*   | Funds released under Saksham Anganwadi and POSHAN 2.0 for the year 2022-23*   | Funds released under Saksham Anganwadi and POSHAN 2.0 for the year 2022-23*   |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|                                                                               |                                                                               | (Rupees in lakhs)                                                             |
| S.No                                                                          | STATE                                                                         | Fund Released                                                                 |
| 1                                                                             | 2                                                                             | 3                                                                             |
| 1                                                                             | BIHAR                                                                         | 170092.48                                                                     |
| 2                                                                             | HARYANA                                                                       | 19502.72                                                                      |
| 3                                                                             | JAMMU & KASHMIR                                                               | 47881.91                                                                      |
| 4                                                                             | JHARKHAND                                                                     | 43057.44                                                                      |
| 5                                                                             | MAHARASHTRA                                                                   | 164534.03                                                                     |
| 6                                                                             | WEST BENGAL                                                                   | 122672.48                                                                     |
|                                                                               | Grand Total                                                                   | 567741.06                                                                     |

*Utilisation for FY 2022-23 is not due.