Lok Sabha Question No. 2169 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-12
Subject: Implementation of ICDS-related Initiatives
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Shri Ajay Kumar Mandal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2169 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.12.2025

## IMPLEMENTATION OF ICDS-RELATED INITIATIVES

## 2169.  SHRI AJAY KUMAR MANDAL:

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

- (a) whether any specific components of the Swasth Nari, Sashakt Parivar Abhiyaan have been  integrated  with  the  existing  Integrated  Child  Development  Services  (ICDS) platform in the Bhagalpur Parliamentary Constituency, is so, the details thereof;
- (b) the details of the criteria adopted  for identifying ICDS  beneficiaries in said Constituency covered under the initiative announced during the 8 th Rashtriya Poshan Maah;
- (c) whether any new monitoring indicators/reporting mechanisms have been proposed for Anganwadi Services in said Constituency in light of the new Abhiyaan, if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether any timeline has been proposed for rollout of the ICDS-related components under  the  Abhiyaan  in  said  Constituency  along  with  the  proposed  schedule  for State/national-level implementation, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a): The 'Swasth Nari, Sashakt Parivar Abhiyaan (SNSPA)' campaign was conducted during the period of 17th September 2025 and 2nd October 2025 by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) and the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD) in the entire country including in the Bhagalpur district of the State of Bihar. It aimed at strengthening healthcare services for women and children across India, with a focus on improving access, quality care and awareness through Jan Bhagidaari.

The Swasth Nari, Sashakt Parivar Abhiyaan was implemented throughout the country with close  convergence  of  various  Ministries  as  stakeholders  to  ensure  comprehensive  service delivery for women, adolescents, and children at the grassroots level. The printed information Education and Communication (IEC) in regional languages was provided to maximize the outreach  during  the  campaign.  The  following  activities  have  been  conducted  during  the campaign:

- 19.7 lakh countrywide dedicated health camps with a footfall of more than 11 crores on all healthcare platforms to provide screenings and specialist and telemedicine services, including counselling activities.
- Provision of medical and health services for women including check-up for ENT, Eye, Dental check-up.
- Promoting  healthy  lifestyles  such  as  reducing  obesity  local  and  regional  food, distribution of Take-Home Ration (THR).
- Focusing on women's health, including screenings for oral, breast and cervical cancer, anaemia, hypertension, diabetes, tuberculosis and sickle cell diseases.
- Providing maternal and child health services, such as antenatal care (ANC) checkups and  immunization  and  Early  Childhood  Care  and  Infant  and  Young  Child  Feeding (IYCF) practices.
- Raising awareness about nutrition, menstrual hygiene, and mental health.
- Active participation of citizens for voluntary blood donation, Nikshay Mitra Volunteer and organ donor registration.
- Distribution  of  digital  cards  and  special  registration  including  Mother  and  Child Protection  (MCP)  Card,  Sickle  Cell  card,  Pradhan  Mantri  Matru  Vandana  Yojana (PMMVY) enrolment and registration of beneficiary on POSHAN Tracker.

Since the launch of Poshan Abhiyaan in 2018, annual Jan Andolans in the form of Poshan Maah (the month of September) and Poshan Pakhwada (in a fortnight of March/ April) are celebrated  in  convergence  with  various  Ministries/  Departments  and  other  stakeholders. Alongside  the  Swasth  Nari,  Sashakt  Parivar  Abhiyaan,  8 th Rashtriya  Poshan  Maah  was launched on 17th September, 2025 by Hon'ble Prime Minister from Dhar, Madhya Pradesh which was celebrated from 17th September to 16th October 2025, at all Anganwadi centres across the country including State of Maharashtra. Themes taken up during this Poshan Maah includes-  Addressing  Obesity,  Early  Childhood  Care  and  Education  (ECCE),  Reinforcing Infant  and  Young  Child  Feeding  (IYCF)  Practices,  Men-streaming,  Vocal  for  Local,  and Convergent Actions & Digitization.

(b): The criteria for identification of beneficiaries remained unchanged and followed standard eligibility  norms,  namely:  Children  (0 -6  years),  Pregnant  women,  Lactating  mothers  and Adolescent  girls  (14-18  years  from  Aspirational  Districts  and  all  districts  of  Northeastern

States), as applicable under the scheme. Beneficiary identification during the 8th Rashtriya Poshan Maah was done at the Anganwadi Centre. The same criteria were applied uniformly in districts including in the Bhagalpur District of the State of Bihar.

(c): Activities  conducted  at  Anganwadi  centres  during  8th  Rashtriya  Poshan  Maah  are available on Jan Andolan Dashboard https://poshanabhiyaan.gov.in/

(d) : Overall, 14.33 crore activities have been reported by all 36 States/ UTs in convergence with more than 18 partner Ministries around the following themes:

- Vocal for Local campaigns highlighted local food diversity and traditional nutritious recipes.
- Men  Streaming  (1.63  Cr):  Men  were  engaged  as  partners  in  nutrition  and  health awareness initiatives.
- Early Childhood Care & Education (ECCE) (2.41 Cr): Activities emphasized holistic development and learning readiness for young children.
- Infant  &  Young  Child  Feeding  (IYCF)  Practices  (2.53  Cr):  Sessions  encouraged exclusive breastfeeding and appropriate complementary feeding.
- Addressing Obesity (2.85 Cr): Awareness drives promoted balanced diet and physical fitness among women and children.

The 8th Poshan Maah along with Swasth Nari Sashakt Parivar Abhiyaan was implemented in the State of Bihar, including Bhagalpur district, through Anganwadi-based activities, health screening camps, beneficiary mobilisation and nutrition awareness drives during Poshan Maah.

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