Lok Sabha Question No. 2136 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-15
Subject: Establishment of Anganwadi Centres
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Shiromani Ram

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN & CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 2136

TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.12.2023

## ESTABLISHMENT OF ANGANWADI CENTRES

2136:  SHRI RAMSHIROMANI VERMA:

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

- (a) the details of funds allocated for establishment of Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) in Shravasti and Balrampur districts of Uttar Pradesh;
- (b) whether  the  regular  inspection  of  AWCs  is  carried  out  by  officers  of  the Department, if so, the details including provisions made in this regard;
- (c) the number of complaints received by the Department in this regard;
- (d) the number of cases of malnutrition reported from the said districts;
- (e) the steps taken by the Government to tackle such cases; and
- (f) whether the Government is considering to establish new AWCs in the above districts and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (f) The Government has accorded high priority to the issue of malnutrition and is  implementing  several  schemes/programmes  of  different  Ministries/Departments through States/UTs to address various aspects related to nutrition. The efforts under the  Supplementary  Nutrition  Programme  under  Anganwadi  Services  and  Poshan Abhiyaan have been realigned and converged as 'Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0'  (Mission  Poshan  2.0).  In  the  15th  FC,  components  of  nutritional  support  for children below the age of 6 years, pregnant women and lactating mothers, Adolescent Girls (14 - 18 years); Early Childhood Care and Education [3-6 years]; Anganwadi infrastructure  including  modern,  upgraded  Saksham Anganwadi, Poshan Abhiyaan and Scheme for Adolescent Girls have been reorganised under Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 (Mission Poshan 2.0). Mission Poshan 2.0 focuses on Maternal Nutrition, Infant and Young Child Feeding Norms, Treatment of MAM/SAM and Wellness through Ayush practices to reduce wasting and under-weight prevalence besides stunting and anaemia.

It 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 Mission Poshan 2.0, Supplementary nutrition is provided to beneficiaries 300 days in a year through the network of 13.97 lakh AWCs located across the country for bridging the gap in the intake as compared to the recommended dietary intake. Only fortified rice is being supplied to AWCs to meet the requirement of micro nutrient and control anemia among women and children. Greater emphasis is being given on the use of millets for preparation of Hot Cooked Meal and Take Home Rations (THR) (not  raw  food  material)  at  Anganwadi  Centres  for  children  below  6  years  of  age, Pregnant Women, Lactating Mothers.

The objectives of Poshan 2.0 are as follows:

- (a) To contribute to human capital development of the country;
- (b) Address challenges of malnutrition;
- (c) Promote nutrition awareness and good eating habits for sustainable health and well-being; and
- (d) Address nutrition related deficiencies through key strategies.

Steps have been taken to improve nutritional quality and testing in accredited labs, strengthen delivery and leverage technology under Poshan Tracker to improve governance. States/UTs have been advised to promote use of AYUSH systems for prevention of malnutrition and related diseases. A programme to support development of  Poshan  Vatikas  at  Anganwadi  Centres  to  meet  dietary  diversity  gap  leveraging traditional knowledge in nutritional practices has also been taken up.

The  details  of  cases  of  Severe  Acute  Malnutrion  and  Moderate  Acute Malnutrition in the districts of Shravasti and Balrampur are given at Annexure-I.

Streamlining Guidelines have been issued by MWCD on 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  delivery  of  Supplementary  Nutrition. Nutritional Status and Quality Standards of food items under Supplementary Nutrition, Transparency is being monitored in Supply Chain Management at State, District and Village Level.

The Government has decided to upgrade all Mini AWCs with one worker to a full-fledged Anganwadi Centre with one worker and one helper. Out of 1,16,288 Mini AWCs, orders have been issued for up gradation of 42,268 Mini AWCs. The Ministry is also focused on operationalizing all the sanctioned AWCs in the States. Further, all over  the  country, 2  lakh  Anganwadi  Centres  @  40,000  AWCs  per  year  are  being upgraded  as  Saksham  Anganwadis  which  have  better  infrastructure  than  the conventional Anganwadi Centres including internet/Wi-Fi connectivity, LED screens, water purifier/installation of RO Machine and equipped with smart learning and audiovisual aids. The number of Saksham Anganwadis approved for UP is 2349 while for

Shravasti and Balrampur the number of approved Saksham Anganwadis is 150 and 249 respectively. The details of funds released for upgradation of Anganwadi Centres to Saksham Anganwadis in the State of Uttar Pradesh and to Shravasti and Balrampur Districts  are  given  at Annexure-II .  There  is  no  proposal  for  establishment  of  new AWCs.

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## Annexure to Lok Sabha US PQ No. 2136 for answer on 15.12.2023

## Annexure-I

The details of Severe Acute Malnutrition and Moderate Acute Malnutrition*

|   Sl. No. | Name of Districts   |   No. of Children (0-6 yrs) |   Severe Acute Malnutriton (SAM) (0-5 yrs) |   Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM) (0-5 yrs) |
|-----------|---------------------|-----------------------------|--------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|
|         1 | Shravasti           |                      138888 |                                       5335 |                                         10360 |
|         2 | Balrampur           |                      282791 |                                       3914 |                                         11364 |

*Data as per Poshan Tracker for November, 2023

Annexure-II

The details of fund released for up-gradation of Anganwadi Centre into Saksham Anganwadi to the State Government of Uttar Pradesh and to District Shravasti and Balrampur:

(Rupees in Lakhs)

|   Sl. No. | Name of State/Districts   | Financial Year   |   Funds Released |
|-----------|---------------------------|------------------|------------------|
|         1 | Uttar Pradesh             | 2022-23          |          1015.8  |
|         2 | Shravasti                 | 2022-23          |            62.34 |
|         3 | Balrampur                 | 2022-23          |           108.18 |