Lok Sabha Question No. 1205 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-06
Subject: Nutrition and Health Programme for Women and Children
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Shri Ram Shiromani Verma

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 1205

TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.02.2026

## NUTRITION AND HEALTH PROGRAMME FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN

## 1205.    SHRI RAM SHIROMANI VERMA:

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

- (a) whether the rate of malnutrition, anaemia/school dropout among women and children is higher than the National average in aspirational districts like Shravasti and Balrampur of Uttar Pradesh, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the implementation of Anganwadi centres, nutrition tracker, supplementary nutrition and maternity benefit schemes is satisfactory in these districts, if so, details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether any special nutrition/health programme is being run by the Government for adolescent girls,  pregnant  women and lactating mothers in the said areas, if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether the Government has any proposal to provide additional resources, manpower/ special packages for women  empowerment,  child  protection and malnutrition eradication in the aspirational districts, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI ANNPURNA DEVI)

(a) to (d):   The Poshan Tracker Application data of malnutrition among those children under five in the aspirational districts like Shravasti and Balrampur of Uttar Pradesh, who attended Anganwadi  Centres  (AWCs)  or  received  Anganwadi  services  at  home  is  available  at: https://www.poshantracker.in/statistics

Prevalence of anemia among women and children in Shravasti and Balrampur districts as per National Family Health Survey-5 (2019-21) is placed below:

| Indicator                                            |   National Average |   BalrampurShravasti |      |
|------------------------------------------------------|--------------------|----------------------|------|
| Children aged 6-59 months whoare anemic (<l1.0 g/dl) |               67.1 |                 75.4 | 61.2 |

| Non-pregnant women aged 15-49 years who are anemic (<12.0 g/dl) (%)   | 57.2   | 54.8   | 44.6   |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|--------|--------|--------|

National Average for school dropout is 0.3 in primary level (Class 1-5), 3.5 in upper primary and 11.5 in Secondary level (Class 9-10).

To address the challenge of malnutrition, 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). It is a Centrally Sponsored Mission where the responsibility for implementation of various activities lies with the States and UTs. This Mission includes beneficiaries; Children under 6 years of age, pregnant women, lactating mothers and adolescent girls (14-18 years, in Northeastern States and Aspirational Districts) of the country. The objectives of Mission are to contribute to development of human capital in the country, to address challenge of malnutrition and to promote nutrition awareness and good eating habits for sustainable health and wellbeing.

Relevance of Poshan Abhiyaan has been found satisfactory for tackling malnutrition in the country in a survey conducted by the World Bank a survey on Poshan Abhiyaan in 11 priority states and also in third party evaluation and impact assessment done by NITI Aayog in 2020 and 2025. The Poshan Tracker Application has been implemented for monitoring and tracking of all AWCs, AWWs and beneficiaries on defined indicators of stunting, wasting, under-weight prevalence among children. The App also offers counselling videos on key behaviours and services  which  help  disseminate  messages  on  birth  preparedness,  delivery,  post-natal  care, breastfeeding, and complementary feeding. Poshan Tracker Application data including district wise details of the State of Uttar Pradesh are available at: https://www.poshantracker.in/statistics

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,  behavioural  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, Supplementary Nutrition is provided to Children (6 months to 6 years), Pregnant Women, Lactating Mothers and Adolescent Girls to break the intergenerational cycle of malnutrition by adopting a life cycle approach. It is provided in accordance with the nutrition norms contained in Schedule-II of the National Food Security Act, 2013. These norms have been  revised  in  January  2023.  The  old  norms  were  largely  calorie-specific;  however,  the revised norms are more comprehensive and balanced in terms of both quantity and quality of supplementary  nutrition  based  on  the  principles  of  diet  diversity  that  provides  for  quality protein,  healthy  fats  and  micronutrients  (Calcium,  Zinc,  Iron,  Dietary  Folate,  Vitamin  A, Vitamin-B6 and Vitamin B-12).

Further, Fortified rice is being supplied to AWCs to meet the requirement of micro-nutrients and to control anaemia among women and children. Greater emphasis is being laid on the use of millets at least once a week for preparation of Hot Cooked Meal and Take-Home ration at Anganwadi Centers.

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  and reporting regular sensitisation activities under Jan Andolans during Poshan Maah and Poshan Pakhwada 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 (AWWs) are required to conduct two Community Based Events every month.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare implements Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, child, Adolescent Health and Nutrition (RMNCAH+N) strategy in a life cycle approach under National Health Mission (NHM), which includes interventions to address nutrition concerns among adolescent girls, pregnant women, lactating mothers and children under 5 years, across the country including aspirational districts. Details are placed below:

- Anemia Mukt Bharat (AMB) strategy is implemented to reduce prevalence of anemia among  children  and  women  in  life  cycle  approach  through  implementation  of  six interventions;  Prophylactic  Iron  and  Folic  Acid  supplementation  (IFA  Syrup  is provided biweekly to children 6-59 months, and IFA Red tablets are provided weekly to women of reproductive age), Deworming, Intensified behavioral change communication  campaign,  Testing  for  anemia  and  treatment  as  per  protocols, mandatory provision of IFA fortified food in public health programmes and addressing non nutritional causes of anemia via robust institutional mechanism.
- Nutrition  Rehabilitation  centers  (NRCs) are  set  up  at  public  health  facilities  to provide in-patient medical and nutritional care to children under 5 years suffering from Moderate and Severe Acute Malnourishment with medical complications with special focus  on  improving  the  skills  of  mothers  and  caregivers  on  timely,  adequate  and appropriate feeding for children.
- Mothers'  Absolute  Affection  (MAA) Programme  is  implemented  to  improve breastfeeding  coverage  and  age-appropriate  complementary  feeding  practices  by building an enabling environment through awareness generation activities.
- Under National Deworming Day (NDD) albendazole  tablets  are  administered  in  a single fixed day approach via schools and Anganwadi centers in two rounds (February and August) to reduce the worm infestation among all children and adolescents (1-19 years).
- Village Health Sanitation and Nutrition Days (VHSNDs) are observed for provision of maternal and child health services and creating awareness on maternal and childcare including nutrition in convergence with Ministry of Women and Child Development.

The  Ministry  of  Women  and  Child  Development  is  implementing  Pradhan  Mantri  Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) across the country w.e.f. 01.01.2017. The PMMVY is a Centrally Sponsored Maternity Benefit Scheme under which cash incentives of ₹5,000/ - is provided to the beneficiary as Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode for first child. The eligible beneficiaries receive the remaining cash incentive, as per approved norms towards maternity benefit under Janani Suraksha Yojana after institutional delivery, so that on a n average a woman gets ₹6,000/. Further, cash incentive of ₹6,000/ - is also provided to eligible beneficiaries for second child subject to the second child being a girl'. The number of beneficiaries paid since the inception of the scheme till 01.02.2026 are 31,744 in Shravasti and 77,979 in Balrampur districts of Uttar Pradesh.

The Ministry has taken various steps for women empowerment in the country including all Aspirational Districts which are placed below:

Shakti  Sadan  Scheme :  Under  the  overarching  'Mission  Shakti',  erstwhile  schemes  of 'Swadhar Greh' for Women in difficult circumstances and 'Ujjawala Home' for Prevention of Trafficking,  have  been  merged  and  named  'Shakti  Sadan  Scheme',  which  is  an  Integrated Relief  and  Rehabilitation  Home  for  women  in  distress  situations  including  trafficked women.   It  aims  at  creating  a  safe  and  enabling  environment  for  the  women  in  distress situations,  to  enable  them  to  overcome  the  difficult  circumstances.  Presently,  413  Shakti Sadans are functional benefiting about 13,000 women across the country.

Sakhi Niwas Scheme: Sakhi Niwas Scheme (Working Women Hostel) under the overarching Mission  Shakti,  is  a  demand  driven  Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme,  under  which  funds  are released directly to the States/UTs for implementation of the scheme. The States/UTs assess their requirement as per local needs and proposals are approved by the Programme Approval Board (PAB) after discussion with States/UTs. The scheme aims to promote availability of safe and conveniently located accommodation for working women in urban, semi-urban and in rural areas  where  employment  opportunity  for  women  exists.  Presently,  560  Sakhi  Niwas  are functional benefiting about 25,855 women across the country.

Anganwadi cum Creche (Palna) :    The  Ministry  has  introduced  Palna  Scheme  under  the Samarthya Vertical of Umbrella Mission Shakti for all States and UTs w.e.f. 1st April, 2022 to provide day care facilities and protection to children. To address these difficulties faced by the working  mothers  in  giving  due  childcare  and  protection  to  their  children,  day-care  crèche facilities are being provided through Palna Scheme. Crèche services formalise the childcare responsibilities  hitherto  considered  as  part  of  domestic  work.  As  on  31.01.2026,  a  total  of 14,599 more Anganwadi-cum-Creches (AWCCs) are approved and out of them, 2820 AWCCs are functional across the country.

*****