NEW DELHI — The Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD) has detailed its multi-pronged framework under Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, focusing on improved nutritional outcomes for children aged 0–6 years, pregnant women, lactating mothers, and adolescent girls across India.
In a written submission to the Lok Sabha, Union Minister of State for Women and Child Development Smt. Savitri Thakur outlined key governance, digital tracking, and community-driven measures implemented to address malnutrition.
Strategic Focus Areas & Key Policy Initiatives
The Centrally Sponsored Scheme incorporates several core administrative and technological pillars executed in coordination with States and Union Territories:
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Subsumed Framework: Poshan 2.0 consolidates Anganwadi Services, Poshan Abhiyaan, and the Scheme for Adolescent Girls (focusing on ages 14–18 in Aspirational Districts and North-Eastern States) into a unified mission.
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Digital Oversight via ‘Poshan Tracker’: Deployed as a real-time monitoring tool, the application tracks Anganwadi Centre operations, daily attendance, growth monitoring, and meal distributions. It also features a Facial Recognition System (FRS) to verify intended beneficiaries for Take-Home Ration (THR) delivery.
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Revised Nutritional Norms: Aligning with Schedule-II of the National Food Security Act, 2013, the revised norms emphasize dietary diversity—delivering essential micronutrients, quality protein, and healthy fats beyond basic calorie targets. Additional supplementary nutrition is allocated for Severely Acutely Malnourished (SAM) children.
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Joint Malnutrition Management Protocol: Developed in partnership with the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, this protocol establishes a community-based care model for screening, early detection, and home-based management of SAM children using local, nutrient-dense foods and supportive medical care.
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Community Mobilization: Behavioral change is driven through monthly Anganwadi-level Community Based Events (CBEs) alongside nationwide campaigns during Poshan Maah (September) and Poshan Pakhwada (March–April).
