Lok Sabha Question No. 5739 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-27
Subject: Upgradation of AWCs in Uttar Pradesh
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Shri Utkarsh Verma Madhur

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN & CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 5739

TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.03.2026

## UPGRADATION OF AWCS IN UTTAR PRADESH

## 5739.  SHRI UTKARSH VERMA MADHUR:

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

- (a) whether there is any proposal with the Government to upgrade the existing Anganwadi Centres in Lakhimpur Kheri of Uttar Pradesh into 'Saksham Anganwadi';
- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  indicating  the  number  of  centres  equipped  with  modern facilities thereunder so far;
- (c) the extent to which the number of Severe Acute Malnourished (SAM) and Moderate Acute Malnourished (MAM) children has reduced in Kheri district during the last two years under 'Poshan Abhiyaan 2.0';
- (d) the  total  number  of  beneficiaries  provided  with  cash  incentives  under  this  scheme during the last three years in the Kheri Parliamentary Constituency; and
- (e) whether  any  steps  have  been  taken  by  the  Government  to  further  simplify  the registration process, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) and (b): During the 15th Finance Commission cycle, 2 lakh Government owned Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) @ 40,000 AWCs per year are being strengthened and 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 better  infrastructure  than  the  conventional  Anganwadi  Centres  by  providing  LED  screens, water purifier/installation of RO Machine, Poshan Vatika, ECCE and BALA Paintings etc. Prerequisites  for  an  Anganwadi  Centre  to  be  considered  for  upgradation  to  Saksham Anagnwadi  Centre  includes  Government  owned  building,  availability  of  Electricity/power supply, drinking water facility, functional toilet and kitchen.

As on date, a total of 2 Lakh AWCs have been approved for upgradation as Saksham AWCs including 613 AWCs to the District of Lakhimpur Kheri in the State of Uttar Pradesh.

(c)  The  number  of  Severe  Acute  Malnourished  (SAM)  and  Moderate  Acute  Malnourished (MAM) children in Kheri district during the last two years as per Poshan Tracker data is as below:

| No. of child beneficiaries                              | Feb-24   | Feb-25   | Feb-26                        |
|---------------------------------------------------------|----------|----------|-------------------------------|
| Total Active Children measured (Height &Weight) for the |          |          | Month3,91,2523,90,7223,00,757 |
| No of SAM                                               | 3,487    | 585      | 63                            |
| No ofMAM                                                | 14,471   | 5,130    | 679                           |

(d)  Mission  Saksham  Anganwadi  and  Poshan  2.0  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 the  Mission,  a  package  of  six  services  are  provided  to  the  eligible  beneficiaries  i.e Supplementary  Nutrition  (SNP),   Pre-school  Non-formal  Education, Nutrition  &  Health Education,  Immunization, Health Check-up, and Referral Services. Three of the six services, viz.,  Immunization,  Health  check-up  and  Referral  Services  are  related  to  health  and  are provided through National Health Mission (NHM) & Public Health Infrastructure.

These services are provided to the eligible registered beneficiaries i.e children up to the age of 6 years, Pregnant Women and Lactating Mothers across the country and Adolescent Girls in the age group of 14 to 18 years in Aspirational Districts of States and all districts of North Eastern Region by through the platform of Anganwadi Centre.

(e) For last mile tracking of Service Delivery, Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) has developed Facial Recognition System (FRS) in Poshan Tracker Application for distribution  of  TakeHome  Ration  to  ensure  that  benefit  is  given  only  to  the  inten ded beneficiary registered in Poshan Tracker.

The Nominee Module has been introduced in Poshan Tracker to ensure uninterrupted delivery of Take-Home Ration (THR) to Pregnant Women, Lactating Mothers, and Adolescent Girls under  Saksham  Anganwadi  and  Mission  Poshan  2.0.  If  due  to  any  reason,  the  registered beneficiary (Pregnant Women, Lactating Mother and Adolescent girl) is unable to visit the Anganwadi Centre to receive their THR through FRS, she can nominate a nominee on her behalf to receive her THR. Nominee has to undergo e-KYC only ONCE. But face matching will be done every time for receiving THR on behalf of the beneficiary. Even after addition of the nominee, beneficiary can still receive the THR at the Anganwadi Center if the nominee has not received it already.

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