Lok Sabha Question No. 3561 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-21
Subject: Upgradation of Anganwadis
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Shri Yaduveer Wadiyar, Shri Kodikunnil Suresh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN & CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3561 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.03.2025

## UPGRADATION OF ANGANWADIS

3561. Shri Kodikunnil Suresh:

Shri Yaduveer Wadiyar :

Will the Minister of Women and Child Development be pleased to state:

- (a)      the steps taken by the Government for the modernization and upgradation of Anganwadis to ensure improved infrastructure and service delivery in Kerala and Karnataka indicating the amount of funds allocated, released and utilized for the purpose during the last three years;
- (b)      whether the Government  has  initiated any specific schemes  to equip Anganwadis  with  digital  learning  facilities,  child-friendly  infrastructure  and hygienic amenities, if so, the details thereof;
- (c)      whether the Government has formulated any plans to enhance the training and capacity- building of Anganwadi workers in Kerala, if so, the details thereof;
- (d)       the status of implementation of Poshan Abhiyaan in Kerala;
- (e)       the measures taken by the Government to address staff shortages and improve the delivery of ICDS services in Mysuru district of Karnataka; and
- (f)       whether  any  initiatives  have  taken  to ensure better nutrition  for children  and pregnant women in Kodagu's tribal areas, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (b) During the 15th 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  under  Mission Saksham  Anganwadi  and  Poshan  2.0.  Saksham  Anganwadis  are  equipped  with infrastructure  better  than  the  conventional  Anganwadi  Centres  by  providing  LED screens, water purifier/installation of RO Machine, Poshan Vatika, ECCE and BALA Paintings.

Under Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, beginning from FY 2021-22, 50000 AWCs building are to be constructed over a period of five years @10000 AWCs per year. The cost norms for construction of Anganwadi Centres in convergence with

Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) is Rs.12 Lakh per AWC wherein Rs.8.00 Lakh would be provided under MGNREGS, Rs.2.00 Lakh under 15th FC (or any other untied funds) and Rs.2.00 Lakh by Ministry of  Women  and  Child  Development  per  AWC  to  be  shared  between  Centre  and States/UTs in the prescribed cost sharing ratio.

The  unit  cost  approved  for  construction  of  toilet  is  Rs.36000/-  per  AWC  and  for drinking water provisioning the approved cost is Rs. 17000/- per AWC to be shared by Centre and States/UTs as per the cost sharing ratio.

Directions have been issued to States/UTs to co-locate Anganwadi Centres, which are running on rent  without  sufficient  infrastructure,  at  nearby  Primary  Schools,  where space is available.

Details  of  funds  released  during  last  three  Financial  Years  for  the  purpose  of upgradation  to  Saksham  Anganwadi,  construction  under  MGNREGS  and  for construction of toilet and provision for drinking water are placed at Annexure.

(c)   MWCD is implementing Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi through the National Institute of Public  Cooperation  and  Child  Development  (NIPCCD).  PBPB  is  a  path-breaking national initiative to provide all 14 lakh Anganwadi Workers with a 5 day in person training (3 days in Round 1 and 2 days in Round 2, 2023-26) across all States & UTs including Kerala.

Two important documents launched by MWCD guide this training of PBPB. Navchetana - National Framework for Early Childhood Stimulation, 2024 aims to holistically develop children from birth to three years through 140 age-specific activities in the form of a 36-month stimulation activity calendar. The second document is Aadharshila, the National Curriculum for Early Childhood Care and Education for children aged three to six years which provide provides over 130 activities that foster child-led and educator-led learning, both indoors and outdoors.

Tier-I:  Approximately 40,000 State-Level Master Trainers (SLMTs), including Child Development  Project  Officers (CDPOs),  Supervisors,  and  additional resource persons, undergo a two-day hybrid training (online and offline) at NIPCCD.

Tier-II: Around 13.1 lakh Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) receive three-day in-person training, structured in two rounds:

Up to 16 th  March, 2025, 35,968 SLMTs have been trained under Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi programs in 782 Districts of 35 States and 298,847 Anganwadi Workers have been trained in 470 Districts of 31 States. In Kerala, 1494 SLMTs and 10,355 AWWs have been trained as on 16 th  March, 2025.

Further, State Government of Kerala is giving Job training to AWWs from their own fund. During FY 2024-25, 420 AWWs have been provided with job training.

- (d)        Poshan Abhiyaan, an overarching scheme for holistic nourishment is flagship scheme launched on 8 th   March  2018  to  improve  nutritional  outcomes  for  children,

adolescents, pregnant women and lactating mothers. As on 28.02.2025 the number of beneficiaries in Kerala under the Poshan Abhiyaan is as follows:

|   Sl. No. | Children (0-6 months) Children (6 months - 3 Years)   | Children (3 - 6 Years)   | Pregnant Woman   | Lactating Mother   | Adolescent Girls   | Total Beneficiaries   |
|-----------|-------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------|------------------|--------------------|--------------------|-----------------------|
|         1 | 86,693 7,13,605                                       | 8,77,109                 | 1,12,454         | 89,240             | 17,847             | 18,96,948             |

(e)to(f)  In the State of Karnataka details of sanctioned posts, in-position and vacancy of AWW and AWH in Mysuru district is as under.

| Staff details   |   Sanctioned Post |   In-position |   Vacant |
|-----------------|-------------------|---------------|----------|
| AWW             |              2933 |          2879 |       54 |
| AWH             |              2830 |          2501 |      329 |

The Government of Karnataka has taken several proactive measures to address staff shortages, for example an online portal for the recruitment of AWW and AWH has been developed.

Further, there have been several targeted initiatives in Kodagu's tribal areas to ensure better  nutrition  for  children  and  pregnant  women,  as  part  of  efforts  to  address malnutrition and improve overall health outcomes in these regions. The government of Karnataka, along with various line departments and community-based organizations,  has  implemented  strategies  under  the  Poshan  Abhiyaan  and  other health programs specifically for the tribal population in Kodagu.

- i. Focus on Traditional and Indigenous Food Systems.
- ii. Tribal Health and Nutrition Campaigns
- iii. Mathrupoorna Scheme: Under this scheme, pregnant and lactating women receive 600 kcal and 18-20 grams of protein per meal at a unit cost of Rs. 21/. Since 2022, beneficiaries from hilly areas, including Kodagu district, have been receiving raw food items as Take-Home Ration (THR).
- iv. Ksheerabhagya Scheme Under this scheme 150 ml of milk is provided to Anganwadi children aged 6 months to 6 years. Severely Acute Malnourished (SAM) and Moderately Acute Malnourished (MAM) children receive an additional 20 grams of milk powder as Take Home Ration three days a week.
- v. Shrusti Scheme: Under this scheme, children aged 3 to 6 years receive eggs three days a week.SAM and MAM children (6 months to 3 years) receive eggs three days a week. SAM and MAM children (3 to 6 years) receive eggs five days a week.

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Annexure Statement referred to in reply to part (b) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3561 to be answered on 21.03.2025 regarding 'Upgradation of Anganwadis' by Shri Kodikunnil Suresh and Shri Yaduveer Wadiyar.

The details  of  funds  released  during  last  three  Financial  Years  for  the  purpose  of upgradation  to  Saksham  Anganwadi,  construction  under  MGNREGS  and  for construction of toilet and provision for drinking water:

Rs in Lakhs

| Sl. N o.   | State      | FY 2022-23                                                              | FY 2022-23                                                              | FY 2022-23                                                              | FY 2023-24                                                              | FY 2023-24                                           | FY 2023-24         | FY 2024-25*         | FY 2024-25*                                             | FY 2024-25*        | FY 2024-25*   |
|------------|------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------|--------------------|---------------------|---------------------------------------------------------|--------------------|---------------|
|            |            | Const ructio n und er MG NRE Const ructio n of T oilet Drin king Wat er | Const ructio n und er MG NRE Const ructio n of T oilet Drin king Wat er | Const ructio n und er MG NRE Const ructio n of T oilet Drin king Wat er | Const ructio n und er MG NRE Const ructio n of T oilet Drin king Wat er |                                                      |                    |                     |                                                         |                    |               |
|            |            | Sak sha mA nga nw adi                                                   | GS                                                                      |                                                                         | Saks ham Anga nwadi                                                     | Const ructio n und er MG NRE GS Const ructio n oilet | T Drin king Wat er | Saks ham Anga nwadi | Const ructio n und er MG NRE GS Const ructio n of oilet | T Drin king Wat er |               |
| 1          | Karnat aka | 47. 39                                                                  | 960                                                                     | 0                                                                       | 106.8                                                                   | 0                                                    | 0                  | 1048 5.01           | 1122                                                    | 486. 34            |               |
| 2          | Kerala     | 116 .12                                                                 | 168                                                                     | 0                                                                       | 1026                                                                    | 0                                                    | 0                  | 0                   | 0                                                       | 0                  |               |

*As on 12.03.2025.

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