Lok Sabha Question No. 3199 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-08-09
Subject: Upbringing and Wellbeing of Children
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Smt. Delkar Kalaben Mohanbhai

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN & CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UN-STARRED QUESTION NO.3199 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.08.2024

## UPBRINGING AND WELLBEING OF CHILDREN

†3199 SMT. DELKAR KALABEN MOHANBHAI:

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

- (a) whether the country is lagging far behind to that of other countries in terms of upbringing and well being of children;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor, State/UT-wise;
- (c) whether any measures/corrective measures taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to enhance standard of upbringing and well being of children in each State/UT of the country; and
- (d) if so, the details and status thereof, State/UT-wise?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI ANNPURNA DEVI)

(a) to (d) : The country is not lagging behind other countries in terms of upbringing and well being of children.

Ministry of Women and Child Development strives to ensure well-being of children by  providing  them  with  a  safe  and  secure  environment  which  is  accessible, affordable,  reliable  and  free  from  all  forms  of  discrimination.  To  achieve  these objectives,  Ministry  has  launched  important  Umbrella  Missions  encompassing various  schemes  for  development  and  welfare  of  children  in  the  country.  While schemes for nutrition and health care and development of children are implemented through  Mission  Saksham  Anganwadi  and  Poshan  2.0  (Mission  Poshan  2.0), schemes  for  the  safety,  security  and  development  of  children  are  implemented through Mission Vatsalya. The prime objective of these Missions is to promote interministerial  and  inter-  sectoral  convergence  to  create  gender  equitable  and  child centred legislation, policies and programmes.

Mission POSHAN 2.0 is an Integrated Nutrition Support Programme. The Poshan Abhiyaan, Anganwadi Services Scheme and the Scheme for Adolescent Girls have been aligned under this Mission. It seeks to address the challenges of malnutrition in children (upto 6 years) besides adolescent girls (14-18 years), 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. Poshan 2.0 seeks to optimize the quality and delivery  of  food  under  the  Supplementary  Nutrition  Program.  The  Scheme  is designed to address the issue of malnutrition through transparency, accountability, diet diversity and quality, food fortification, greater grassroots involvement and lastmile delivery of services supported by key strategies. Under Poshan 2.0, focus is also on leveraging traditional systems of knowledge and popularizing use of millets.

One of the key components of Poshan 2.0 is Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) and Ministry has developed age appropriate teaching-learning programmes for  mental  and  intellectual  stimulation  and  growth  of  children  in  the  Anganwadi Centres. Besides, under the Mission, 2 lakh selected Government- owned AWCs @ 40,000  AWCs  per  year  over  5  years  would  be  strengthened,  upgraded  and rejuvenated for improved nutrition and ECCE delivery.

Under POSHAN Abhiyaan, for the first time, Anganwadi workers have been provided smart phones and Anganwadi Centres have been equipped with Growth Monitoring Devices to promote regular growth monitoring of children. Under the Abhiyaan, IT systems have been leveraged to strengthen and bring about transparency in nutrition delivery support systems through the Poshan Tracker.

The  Ministry  of  Women  and  Child  Development  has  introduced  a  Centrally Sponsored Scheme namely, 'Palna' under the Mission Shakti for all States/UTs, for providing day care facilities and protection to children. Under Palna, Ministry has extended free services of childcare through Anganwadi-cum-Crèche (AWCC). The objective of Palna component is to provide quality creche facility in safe and secure environment for children (from ages 6 months - 6 years), nutritional support, health and cognitive development of children, growth monitoring, immunization and preprimary education.

The objective of Mission Vatsalya is to secure a healthy and happy childhood for every child in India; foster a sensitive, supportive and synchronized ecosystem for development of children; provide support for delivering services for children in need and in difficult circumstances across the country; develop context-based solutions for holistic development of children from varied backgrounds; assist States/UTs in delivering the mandate of The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2015 and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

Components  under  Mission  Vatsalya  include  statutory  bodies;  service  delivery structures;  institutional  care  services;  non-institutional  community  based  care; emergency outreach services; training and capacity building.

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