Lok Sabha Question No. 113 (STARRED), answered on 2026-02-06
Subject: Women and Child Welfare Schemes
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Shri Charanjit Singh Channi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *113

TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.02.2026

## WOMEN AND CHILD WELFARE SCHEMES

## * 113.   SHRI CHARANJIT SINGH CHANNI:

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

- (a) whether the Government has reviewed women and child welfare schemes, including nutrition, education and safety in Punjab;
- (b) if  so,  the  number of  beneficiaries  thereunder along with the funds released therefor during the last three years;
- (c) whether any special interventions have been launched to address malnutrition, domestic violence and skill development among women and children; and
- (d) if so, the details of outcomes achieved along with the districts covered thereunder?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) to (d):    A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF LOK SABHA STARRED  QUESTION  NO.113  TO  BE  ANSWERED  ON  06.02.2026  BY  SHRI CHARANJIT  SINGH  CHANNI  REGARDING  WOMEN  AND  CHILD  WELFARE SCHEMES

- (a)  &  (b):      Various  schemes  implemented for welfare of women and children all over the country, including schemes for nutrition, education and safety in Punjab, have been reviewed and clubbed into three Umbrella Missions by the Ministry of Women & Child Development (MoWCD), viz. (1) Mission Saksham Anganwadi & Poshan 2.0 for improving nutrition & health indicators (2) Mission Shakti, for safety, protection and empowerment of women; and (3) Mission Vatsalya, for protection, care and welfare of children in difficult circumstances. Details of the schemes are as under:
- (i)  Saksham  Anganwadi  &  Poshan  2.0  (Mission  Poshan  2.0): Under  this  mission, Anganwadi Services Scheme, POSHAN Abhiyaan and Scheme for Adolescent Girls have been reorganized into 3 primary sub-verticals: (i) Nutrition Support for Children, Pregnant Women & Lactating Mothers and for Adolescent Girls (ii) Early Childhood Care and Education and (iii) Anganwadi Infrastructure including upgraded Saksham Anganwadis.
- (ii)  Mission  Shakti: It  comprises  of  two  verticals 'Sambal' and 'Samarthya' for  safety, security and empowerment of women, respectively.
- I. Sambal The following schemes have been included under the Sambal vertical: One Stop Centres  (OSC) -  for  providing  integrated  support  and  assistance  to  women  affected  by violence and those in distress, both in private and public spaces in a convergent and coordinated manner  under  one  roof ;  Women  Helplines  (181-WHL) is  a  24  x  7  x  365  toll-free emergency/non-emergency  response  system  that  is  integrated  with  ERSS  (112)  and  other existing helplines/institutions; Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) - launched with an aim to address declining Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB) and related issues of empowerment of girls and women over a life cycle continuum; Nari Adalat -a  pilot  initiative  aimed  at  empowering women by ensuring justice and to offer services such as alternate dispute resolution, grievance redressal,  counselling,  evidence-based  decision-making, pressure group  tactics,  negotiation, mediation, and reconciliation.
- II.  Samarthya  The  following  schemes  have  been  included  under  'Samarthya'  vertical: Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) -  a  Centrally  Sponsored  Maternity Benefit  Scheme  under  which  cash  incentives  flow  to  the  beneficiaries  in  Direct  Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode for the first child and the second girl child; Ujjwala and Swadhar Greh (renamed as Shakti Sadan) -  an  Integrated Relief and Rehabilitation Home for women in distress situations including trafficked women; Working Women Hostel (renamed as Sakhi Niwas) - to promote availability of safe and conveniently located accommodation for working women  in  urban,  semi-urban  and  also  in  rural  areas  where  employment  opportunities  for women  exist; National  Hub  for  Empowerment  of  Women  (NHEW) -to facilitate intersectoral convergence of schemes and programs meant for women at National level, State/

UT level and district level and National Creche Scheme (renamed as Palna) that aims to increase the participation of women in work force in the economy by providing quality crèche facility in safe and secure environment for children.

(iii)  Mission  Vatsalya: Mission  Vatsalya  includes  the  Integrated  Child  Protection  Scheme (ICPS) for better outreach and protection for children in need and care in a mission mode with the  objective  to:  (i)  Support  and  sustain  Children  in  difficult  circumstances.  (ii)  Develop context-based  solutions  for  holistic  development  of  children  from  varied  backgrounds. (iii)Provide scope for encouraging innovative solutions, (iv) Cement convergent action.

The details of number of beneficiaries under the aforesaid schemes of the Ministry in Punjab are at Annexure-I . The details of funds released under the aforesaid schemes of the Ministry to State of Punjab during the last three years are at Annexure-II .

(c) & (d):    The special interventions launched to address malnutrition, domestic violence and skill development among women and children are as under:

- Under the 15th Finance Commission, various components like 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) to address the challenge of malnutrition.  It  is  a  Centrally  Sponsored  mission,  where  the  responsibility  for implementation of various activities lies with the States and UTs. This mission is a universal  self-selecting  umbrella  scheme  where  there  are  no  entry  barriers  for  any beneficiary to register and receive services. This mission is implemented across the country including in the State of Punjab. The objectives of Mission are as follows:
- To contribute to development of human capital in the country;
- Address challenge of malnutrition;
- Promote nutrition awareness and good eating habits for sustainable health and wellbeing

As malnutrition requires a multi-sectoral approach involving dimensions of food, health, water, sanitation and education, it is crucial to effectively address the issue of malnutrition in a convergent manner. Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 has addressed this by establishing cross cutting convergence amongst 18 Ministries/Departments

- 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  beat  the intergenerational cycle of malnutrition by adopting a life cycle approach. Supplementary nutrition 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 ). Extra Supplementary Nutrition is provided to Severely Acutely Malnourished (SAM) children as per National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA).
- Further, Fortified rice is being supplied to AWCs to meet the requirement of micronutrients 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.
- Ministry  vide  notification  dated  12th  September  2022  issued  Integrated  Nutrition Support Programme- Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan (2.0), Rules 2022 to regulate the entitlements specified under the provisions of National Food Security Act, 2013 for every pregnant woman and lactating mother, till six months after childbirth and every child in the age group of six months to six years.
- Further, Ministry of Women & Child Development and Ministry of Health & Family Welfare have jointly released the protocol for Community Management of Malnutrition (CMAM) to prevent and treat severely acute malnutrition in children and for reducing associated morbidity and mortality. The community-based approach involves timely detection and screening of children with severe acute malnutrition in the community, management for those without medical complications with wholesome, local nutritious foods at home and supportive medical care. The CMAM protocol includes an appetite test and screening process for children aged 6 months to 6 years who are severely acute malnourished (SAM) or severely underweight (SUW). Post-screening, such children are referred to Nutrition Rehabilitation Centers (NRC) or hospital facilities for further care.
- To  encourage  diet-diversity  and  consumption  of  wholesome  local  produce,  Poshan Vatikas have been developed at AWCs. Poshan Vatikas helps to meet the important dietary diversity gap that has been repeatedly revealed in different surveys by providing different fruits, nuts, herbs, medicinal plants and vegetables round the year.

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 Maahs and Poshan Pakhwadas 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 are required to conduct two Community Based Events every month.

Ministry of Women and Child Development's (MWCD) Scheme for Adolescent Girls (SAG) under Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 provides nutritional and non-nutritional support to Adolescent Girls (AGs) in the age group of 14-18 years in 218 districts (Aspirational and Northeastern) across 27 State/UTs. As part of this, MWCD in convergence with Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) has initiated a Special Pilot, NAVYA (Nurturing Aspirations through Vocational Training for

Young Adolescent Girls), for skilling of Adolescent Girls (AGs) in the age group of 16-18 years  and  passed  secondary  level  of  school  education  pursuant  to  the  Memorandum  of Understanding (MoU) signed between MWCD with MSDE on 11 October, 2022 for bringing greater convergence in Skill Development Initiatives targeted at Young Girls especially in nontraditional skills.

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## Annexure-I

## ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  PARTS  (a)  &  (b)  OF LOK  SABHA  STARRED QUESTION  NO.113  FOR  06.02.2026  BY  SHRI  CHARANJIT  SINGH  CHANNI REGARDING 'WOMEN AND CHILD WELFARE SCHEMES'

## DETAILS  OF  NUMBER  OF  BENEFICIARIES  UNDER  THE  SCHEMES  OF  THE MINISTRY IN PUNJAB

| Mission                                                   | Scheme                                                    | Category                                 | Number Beneficiaries       | of      |
|-----------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------|----------------------------|---------|
| Mission Saksham Anganwadi & Poshan 2.0 (as on 31.12.2025) | Mission Saksham Anganwadi & Poshan 2.0 (as on 31.12.2025) | Pregnant Women                           | 70173                      |         |
|                                                           |                                                           | Lactating Mothers                        | 97,675                     |         |
|                                                           |                                                           | Children (0-6 years)                     | 12,97,723                  |         |
|                                                           |                                                           | Adolescent Girls                         | 30,375                     |         |
| Mission Vatsalya (FY 2024-25)                             | Mission Vatsalya (FY 2024-25)                             | Beneficiaries Institutional Care         | in 506                     |         |
|                                                           |                                                           | Beneficiaries in Non- Institutional Care | 2483                       |         |
| Mission Shakti                                            | One Stop Centre                                           | Women assisted                           | 25489 (as on 30.09.2025)   |         |
|                                                           | Women Helpline                                            | Women assisted                           | 3,58,291(as 31.12.2025)    | on      |
|                                                           | Pradhan Mantri Vandana Yojana                             | Matru Beneficiaries paid                 | 4.28 Lakhs (FY to 2024-25) | 2022-23 |
|                                                           | Shakti Sadan                                              | Beneficiaries in Shakti Sadan            | 30 (FY 2024-25)            |         |
|                                                           | Palna                                                     | Beneficiaries in Creches                 | 1429 (as on 30.01.2026     |         |

Annexure-II

## ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  PARTS  (a)  &  (b)  OF LOK  SABHA  STARRED QUESTION  NO.113  FOR  06.02.2026  BY  SHRI  CHARANJIT  SINGH  CHANNI REGARDING 'WOMEN AND CHILD WELFARE SCHEMES'

DETAILS OF FUNDS RELEASED TO STATE GOVERNMENT OF PUNJAB UNDER THE SCHEMES OF THE MINISTRY DURING THE LAST THREE YEARS

(Rs. in crores)

|   Sl. No. | Financial Year   |   Mission Saksham Anganwadi& Poshan 2.0 |   Mission Vatsalya |   Mission Shakti |
|-----------|------------------|-----------------------------------------|--------------------|------------------|
|         1 | 2022-23          |                                   75.31 |              10.69 |            20.71 |
|         2 | 2023-24          |                                  307.87 |              15.44 |            42.89 |
|         3 | 2024-25          |                                  265.48 |              14.76 |            38.05 |

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