Lok Sabha Question No. 5665 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-04-04
Subject: Providing Milk for Children in  Anganwadi
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Shri Kuldeep Indora

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 5665

TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.04.2025

## PROVIDING MILK FOR CHILDREN IN ANGANWADI

## 5665.SHRI KULDEEP INDORA:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  any  plan  to  direct  States  to  provide  milk  to  children between  the  age  group  of  3  and  6  years  to  meet  their  nutritional  requirements  in Anganwadis;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (d) the measures being taken to improve the quality of food items served in the Anganwadis in different parts of the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI SAVITRI THAKUR)

(a)  to (d):  Under the 15 th Finance Commission, various components like Anganwadi services, Poshan Abhiyaan and Scheme for Adolescent girls (of 14-18 years in Aspirational Districts and  North-Eastern  region)  have  been  subsumed  under  the  umbrella  Mission  Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 (Mission Poshan 2.0) to address the challenge of malnutrition. It is  a  Centrally  Sponsored  scheme,  where  the  responsibility  for  implementation  of  various activities lies with the States and UTs.

As  per  the  Mission  Poshan  2.0  guidelines,  State  Governments/Union  Territory Administrations to provide Morning snack in the form of milk/banana/seasonal fruits etc. and Hot cooked Meal to children in the age group of 3 to 6 years of age. The guidelines recommend that locally available ingredients (green vegetables, fruits, medicinal plants and herbs), fortified rice and millets shall be actively encouraged in prescription of meals to be served to different categories of beneficiaries under the Scheme to promote health, wellness and immunity and address micronutrient deficiencies.

Under Mission Poshan 2.0, a new strategy has been made for reduction in malnutrition and for improved  health, wellness and immunity  through  activities like  community engagement,  outreach,  behavioral  change,  and  advocacy.  It  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 prevalence of wasting, stunting, anaemia and being underweight.

Under this Mission, one of the major activities undertaken is Community Mobilization and Awareness Advocacy to educate people on nutritional aspects as adoption of good nutrition habit requires sustained efforts for behavioural change. State and UTs are conducting regular sensitisation  activities  under  Jan  Andolans  during  Poshan  Maahs  and  Poshan  Pakhwadas celebrated  in  the  months  of  September  and  March-April  respectively.  Community  Based Events (CBEs) have served as a significant strategy in changing nutritional practices and all Anganwadi workers are required to conduct two Community Based Events every month.

This Ministry continuously monitors the implementation of Mission 2.0 by sustained engagement  with  the  States/UTs  through  Video  Conferences,  meetings  and  online  Poshan Tracker System.

Ministry has issued guidelines to all States/UTs on 13.01.2021 to streamline several aspects  such  as  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 the delivery of Supplementary Nutrition.

Under the guidelines, the District Magistrate (DM) has been designated as the Nodal Point in the district for monitoring nutritional status of beneficiaries and quality standards. A District  Nutrition  Committee  under  the  chairpersonship  of  DM/Collector  with  certified nutrition experts as members has been constituted to review the progress every month.

Further, States/UTs ensure the quality of Supplementary Nutrition, Take Home Ration (THR) and Hot Cooked Meal (HCM) with reference to the norms as per the Food Safety Act. States/UTs  carry  out  periodic  random  sample  checks  through  Food  Safety  and  Standards Authority of India FSSAI owned/registered/empanelled/NABL accredited laboratory. In case of Hot Cooked Meal, it is ensured that it is prepared in proper kitchen sheds having adequate sanitation and safe drinking water so as to maintain hygienic conditions. LPG cylinder and gas stove are used for cooking.

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