Lok Sabha Question No. 310 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-02-03
Subject: Beneficiaries under POSHAN Abhiyan
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Bhavana Gawali (Patil), Mohanbhai Sanjibhai Delkar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN & CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 310

TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.02.2023

## BENEFICIARIES UNDER POSHAN ABHIYAN

310.   SHRIMATI BHAVANA PUNDALIKRAO GAWALI: SHRIMATI DELKAR KALABEN MOHANBHAI:

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

- (a) the budgetary allocation made and expenditure incurred for Poshan Abhiyan from the years 2009-10 to 2021-22;
- (b) the number of children, adolescent girls, pregnant women and lactating mothers benefited under the Poshan Abhiyan from the year 2018 to December 2021;
- (c) whether an increase in the number of underweight children in 16 States and severely weak children in 12 States has been reported in the National Family Health Survey-5, Phase-1 and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the number of districts/aspirational districts targeted under Mission Poshan to tackle the problem of malnutrition State-wise including Maharashtra, Dadar and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu;
- (e) whether the allocation made for Mission Poshan in the year 2021-22 is less as compared to earlier schemes and if so, the reasons therefor; and
- (f) the steps being taken and the time frame to achieve the targets of this Abhiyan?

## ANSWER

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

- (a)   Poshan Abhiyan was launched in March 2018. The budgetary allocation made under the Scheme from FY 2017-18 to FY 21-22 is as follows:

|   Sr. No. | Year    | BE (Rs in Crore)   |
|-----------|---------|--------------------|
|         1 | 2017-18 | 1500.00            |
|         2 | 2018-19 | 3000.00            |
|         3 | 2019-20 | 3400.00            |
|         4 | 2020-21 | 3700.00            |
|         5 | 2021-22 | 20105.00 **        |

Since the launch of the scheme, Rs 5256.97 crores have been released under Poshan  Abhiyan  upto  FY  2021-22.  In  FY  2021-22,  the  scheme  was  aligned alongwith  Anganwadi  Services  and  Scheme  for  Adolescent  Girls.  as  Mission Saksham  Anganwadi  and  Poshan  2.  (Mission  Poshan  2.0)  with  a  budgetary allocation of Rs 20105.00 crore for Mission Poshan 2.0.

(b) 10.10 crore beneficiaries have been registered under Poshan Tracker (as on 3112-2022). Details are as follows:

| Total Beneficiaries   | Lactating Mothers   | Pregnant Women   | Children (0-6M)   | Children (6m-3y)                | Children (3y-6y)   | Adolescent Girls (14-18 y)   |
|-----------------------|---------------------|------------------|-------------------|---------------------------------|--------------------|------------------------------|
| 10,10,50,463          | 52,41,440           | 80,40,215        | 45,95,834         | 4,06,33,0404,25,39,93418,11,961 |                    |                              |

(c) As per the findings of the phase 1 survey of NFHS 5 (2019-21), 16 States/UTs reported an increase in prevalence of underweight and severely weak children (SAM). Details are at Annexure I. However, as per the final report of NFHS-5 (2019-21), the nutrition indicators for children under 5 years have improved as compared with NFHS4 (2015-16). Wasting has improved from 21% (NFHS-4) to 19.3 % (NFHS-5), Underweight  has  improved  from  35.7%  (NFHS-4)  to  32.1%  (NFHS-5)  and  stunting  has improved from 38.4%(NFHS-4) to 35.5% (NFHS-5)

(d)  All  36  States/UTs  are  covered  under  Mission  Poshan  2.0,  including  all  112 Aspirational Districts . State-wise number of districts including in Maharashtra, Dadar and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu are at Annexure II.

(e)  For  the  year  2020-21,  the  Budget  allocation  for  the  Schemes  comprising Anganwadi  Services,  POSHAN  Abhiyaan  and  Scheme  for  Adolescent  Girls  was Rs.24,482 crore and the Revised Budget allocation was Rs.17,902.31 crore. In 202122, after rationalization, these  three  schemes  were  aligned  under  'Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0' having budgetary provision of Rs.20,105 crore which is 12.3% more than the Revised Budget allocation of Rs.17,902.31 crore.

(f)   The efforts under the Supplementary Nutrition Programme of Anganwadi Services and  POSHAN  Abhiyaan  have  been  aligned  under   'Saksham  Anganwadi  and POSHAN  2.0'  (Mission  Poshan  2.0)  which  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  Poshan  2.0,  focus  is  on  diet  diversity,  food  fortification,  and popularizing use of millets. Nutrition awareness strategies under Poshan 2.0 aim to develop sustainable health and well-being through wholesome local foods to bridge dietary gaps.

Dietary  diversification  in  the  Anganwadi  platform  encourages  the  consumption  of micronutrient rich foods, viz., dark green leafy vegetables, lentils and vitamin C rich fruits. States/UTs have been advised to use fortified foods ingredients e.g., Fortified Wheat Flour, Fortified Rice, Double Fortified Salt and Fortified Edible Oil, under the

Supplementary Nutrition Programme for beneficiaries, including pregnant women and lactating mothers. 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 Supplementary  Nutrition  Programme  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  2021-22  onwards  only  Fortified  Rice  is  being  allocated  to  all  the State/UTs. So far,  this Ministry has allocated 731962 MTs of Fortified Rice in FY 202122  and  938207  MTs  of  Fortified  rice  up  to  third  quarter  of  FY  2022-23  to  all  the States/UTs.

Further, greater emphasis is being given on the use 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 have high nutrient content which includes  protein,  essential  fatty  acid,  dietary  fibre,  B-Vitamins,  minerals  such  as calcium, iron, zinc, folic acid and other micro-nutrients thus helping to tackle anemia and other micro-nutrient deficiencies common among women and children. 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 Take Home Ration (not raw ration) and Hot Cooked Meals in a palatable form.

Mission  POSHAN  2.0    will  be  implemented  during  the  15 th  Finance  Commission period 2021-22 to 2025-26

- ******

## ANNEXURE I

Statement referred to reply for the part (C) of Lok Sabha Question No. 310 regarding Beneficiaries under POSHAN Abhiyaan due for answer on 03.02.2023:

| NFHS-4 & NFHS-5 Survey Data_Underweight, Stunting, Wasting & Severe wasting in children under 5 years   | NFHS-4 & NFHS-5 Survey Data_Underweight, Stunting, Wasting & Severe wasting in children under 5 years   | NFHS-4 & NFHS-5 Survey Data_Underweight, Stunting, Wasting & Severe wasting in children under 5 years   | NFHS-4 & NFHS-5 Survey Data_Underweight, Stunting, Wasting & Severe wasting in children under 5 years   | NFHS-4 & NFHS-5 Survey Data_Underweight, Stunting, Wasting & Severe wasting in children under 5 years   | NFHS-4 & NFHS-5 Survey Data_Underweight, Stunting, Wasting & Severe wasting in children under 5 years   |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| S. No.                                                                                                  | State                                                                                                   | Underweight (under 5 yrs)                                                                               | Underweight (under 5 yrs)                                                                               | Severe Wasting (under 5 yrs)                                                                            | Severe Wasting (under 5 yrs)                                                                            |
| S. No.                                                                                                  | State                                                                                                   | NFHS-4 (2015-16)                                                                                        | NFHS-5 (2019-21)                                                                                        | NFHS-4 (2015-16)                                                                                        | NFHS-5 (2019-21)                                                                                        |
| 1                                                                                                       | Andaman & Nicobar                                                                                       | 21.6                                                                                                    | 23.7                                                                                                    | 7.5                                                                                                     | 4.8                                                                                                     |
| 2                                                                                                       | Andhra Pradesh                                                                                          | 31.9                                                                                                    | 29.6                                                                                                    | 4.5                                                                                                     | 6.0                                                                                                     |
| 3                                                                                                       | Assam                                                                                                   | 29.8                                                                                                    | 32.8                                                                                                    | 6.2                                                                                                     | 9.1                                                                                                     |
| 4                                                                                                       | Bihar                                                                                                   | 43.9                                                                                                    | 41                                                                                                      | 7.0                                                                                                     | 8.8                                                                                                     |
| 5                                                                                                       | Dadra Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu                                                                      | 35.8                                                                                                    | 38.7                                                                                                    | 11.5                                                                                                    | 4.3                                                                                                     |
| 6                                                                                                       | Goa                                                                                                     | 23.8                                                                                                    | 24                                                                                                      | 9.5                                                                                                     | 7.5                                                                                                     |
| 7                                                                                                       | Gujarat                                                                                                 | 39.3                                                                                                    | 39.7                                                                                                    | 9.5                                                                                                     | 10.6                                                                                                    |
| 8                                                                                                       | Himachal Pradesh                                                                                        | 21.2                                                                                                    | 25.5                                                                                                    | 3.9                                                                                                     | 6.9                                                                                                     |
| 9                                                                                                       | Jammu & Kashmir                                                                                         | 16.6                                                                                                    | 21                                                                                                      | 5.6                                                                                                     | 9.7                                                                                                     |
| 10                                                                                                      | Karnataka                                                                                               | 35.2                                                                                                    | 32.9                                                                                                    | 10.5                                                                                                    | 8.4                                                                                                     |
| 11                                                                                                      | Kerala                                                                                                  | 16.1                                                                                                    | 19.7                                                                                                    | 6.5                                                                                                     | 5.8                                                                                                     |
| 12                                                                                                      | Lakshadweep                                                                                             | 23.4                                                                                                    | 25.8                                                                                                    | 2.9                                                                                                     | 8.7                                                                                                     |
| 13                                                                                                      | Ladakh                                                                                                  | 18.7                                                                                                    | 20.4                                                                                                    | 5.1                                                                                                     | 9.1                                                                                                     |
| 14                                                                                                      | Maharashtra                                                                                             | 36                                                                                                      | 36.1                                                                                                    | 9.4                                                                                                     | 10.9                                                                                                    |
| 15                                                                                                      | Manipur                                                                                                 | 13.8                                                                                                    | 13.3                                                                                                    | 2.2                                                                                                     | 3.4                                                                                                     |
| 16                                                                                                      | Meghalaya                                                                                               | 29                                                                                                      | 26.6                                                                                                    | 6.5                                                                                                     | 4.7                                                                                                     |
| 17                                                                                                      | Mizoram                                                                                                 | 11.9                                                                                                    | 12.7                                                                                                    | 2.3                                                                                                     | 4.9                                                                                                     |
| 18                                                                                                      | Nagaland                                                                                                | 16.38                                                                                                   | 26.9                                                                                                    | 4.2                                                                                                     | 7.9                                                                                                     |
| 19                                                                                                      | Sikkim                                                                                                  | 14.2                                                                                                    | 13.1                                                                                                    | 5.9                                                                                                     | 6.6                                                                                                     |
| 20                                                                                                      | Telangana                                                                                               | 28.5                                                                                                    | 31.8                                                                                                    | 4.8                                                                                                     | 8.5                                                                                                     |
| 21                                                                                                      | Tripura                                                                                                 | 24.1                                                                                                    | 25.6                                                                                                    | 6.3                                                                                                     | 7.3                                                                                                     |
| 22                                                                                                      | West Bengal                                                                                             | 31.5                                                                                                    | 32.2                                                                                                    | 6.5                                                                                                     | 7.1                                                                                                     |

## ANNEXURE II

Details of State/UT wise number of districts covered under POSHAN Abhiyaan

| State/UT                           |   Number of Districts |
|------------------------------------|-----------------------|
| Andaman & Nicobar Islands          |                     3 |
| Andhra Pradesh                     |                    13 |
| Arunachal Pradesh                  |                    26 |
| Assam                              |                    35 |
| Bihar                              |                    38 |
| Chhattisgarh                       |                    28 |
| Dadra & Nagar Haveli - Daman & Diu |                     3 |
| Delhi                              |                    11 |
| Goa                                |                     2 |
| Gujarat                            |                    33 |
| Haryana                            |                    22 |
| Himachal Pradesh                   |                    12 |
| J&K                                |                    20 |
| Jharkhand                          |                    24 |
| Karnataka                          |                    30 |
| Kerala                             |                    14 |
| Ladakh                             |                     2 |
| Lakshadweep                        |                     1 |
| Madhya Pradesh                     |                    52 |
| Maharashtra                        |                    36 |
| Manipur                            |                    16 |
| Meghalaya                          |                    11 |
| Mizoram                            |                     8 |
| Nagaland                           |                    11 |
| Odisha                             |                    30 |
| Puducherry                         |                     4 |
| Punjab                             |                    22 |
| Rajasthan                          |                    33 |
| Sikkim                             |                     4 |
| Tamil Nadu                         |                    38 |
| Telangana                          |                    33 |
| Tripura                            |                     8 |
| UT-Chandigarh                      |                     1 |
| Uttar Pradesh                      |                    75 |
| Uttarakhand                        |                    13 |
| West Bengal                        |                    23 |
| Grand Total                        |                   735 |