Lok Sabha Question No. 3831 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-11
Subject: Modernization of Anganwadi Centres with Private Partnership
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Rajashree Mallick

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN & CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 3831

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.08.2023

## MODERNIZATION OF ANGANWADI CENTRES WITH PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP

## 3831. SHRIMATI RAJASHREE MALLICK:

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

- (a) whether the Government has completed the modernization programme of all Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) across the country for the empowerment of women and  children  in  rural  areas  and  to  increase  their  participation  in  community development and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the modernized AWCs follow Integrated Child Development Services programme to combat nutritional deficiency and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) whether the Government is partnering with the private sector to successfully modernize AWCs across the country and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  &  (b)  Under  Saksham  Anganwadi  and  Poshan  2.0,  there  is  a  provision  for upgradation of two lakh selected AWCs (40,000 AWCs per year) for improved nutrition delivery  and  Early  Childhood  Care  and  Education  (ECCE)  for   development  of children under 6 years of age with better infrastructure, LED screens, installation of RO Machine   with smart learning  and  audio-visual  aids and child-friendly learning equipment. Internet/wi-fi connectivity is  to  be  provided,  wherever  possible  through BharatNet.

During last FY, 41192 AWCs were approved for up-gradation into Saksham AWCs. Out of this 35054 AWCs were approved in Aspirational districts. For Anganwadi Centres which are running without DWS facilities, all States/UTs have repeatedly been requested to shift those AWC buildings to nearby primary schools or where these facilities are already available.

Construction of toilet and drinking water facilities at Anganwadi Centres under Swachhata Action Plan were new components approved under revised Anganwadi Services by the Cabinet on 16 th  November, 2017. The unit cost approved for toilet and drinking water are Rs.12,000/- and Rs.10,000/- respectively to be shared by Centre and  States/UTs  as  per  cost  sharing  ratio  under  ICDS  (General).  The  unit  cost approved for toilet has since been revised to Rs.36000/- per AWC. Cost for providing drinking water facilities has also been revised to Rs.17000/-. Further, in convergence with Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, under Jal Jeevan Mission, clean drinking water is being provided to Anganwadi Centres through pipelines.

(c)     In order to provide an impetus to the construction of Anganwadi Centres across the country, States/UTs have been advised to continue to tap funds for construction of AWC buildings from various schemes such as MPLADs, MLALADS, RIDF (Rural Infrastructure  Development  Fund),  Finance  Commission  Grants  to  Panchayati  Raj Institutions,  National  Rural  Employment  Guarantee  Act  (NREGA),  Multi-Sectoral Development Programme (MSDP) of Ministry of Minority Affairs, etc. States at their level  in  their  own  discretion  have  been  advised  to  involve  Individuals,  Companies, Business Houses and Institution of repute, CSR funds for construction of AWCs purely on pro bono basis without any obligation. Similarly, the DMs have been directed to encourage/mobilize  resources  for  this  purely  on  pro  bono  basis  and  without  any obligation. States/UTs have similarly been permitted funding of Anganwadi Infrastructure e.g., Toilets, RWHSs, DWS etc., or any aspect of Anganwadi activity such  as  ECCE  material,  furniture,  cooking  utensils,  kitchen  infrastructure,  storage facility, etc.

- ******