Anganwadi Services is one of the flagship programmes of the Government of India and represents one of the world’s largest and unique programmes for early childhood care and development. It is the foremost symbol of the country’s commitment to its children and nursing mothers, as a response to the challenge of providing pre-school non-formal education on one hand and breaking the vicious cycle of malnutrition, morbidity, reduced learning capacity and mortality on the other. The beneficiaries under this scheme are children in the age group of 0-6 years, pregnant women and lactating mothers.

Package of six services: The package of following six services is provided under the Anganwadi Services scheme:

1. Supplementary Nutrition (SNP)
2. Pre-school Non-formal Education,
3. Nutrition & Health Education,
4. Immunization,
5. Health Check-up, and
6. Referral Services

Three of the six services, viz., Immunization, Health check-up and Referral Services are related to health and are provided through NRHM & Public Health Infrastructure.

The Scheme is implemented through State Governments/UT Administrations across the country (including NE States and UT of Ladakh). For the Anganwadi Services (AS) Scheme, the Government of India releases grants-in-aid to the States/UTs presently on the following cost sharing ratio between Centre and States/UTs:

*From 1^st December, 2017, remuneration under Anganwadi Services Scheme is allowed only for selected staff of Anganwadi Services.

POSHAN Abhiyaan was launched on 8^th March, 2018 with the vision of a malnutrition-free India. The POSHAN Abhiyaan aims to reduce malnutrition from the country and achieve improvement in nutritional status of Children from 0-6 years, Adolescent Girls, Pregnant Women and Lactating Mothers in a time bound manner.

The number of beneficiaries under the Anganwadi Services in the NE States and UT of Ladakh are placed at Annexure-I. The status of funds released to States/UTs (NE States and UT of Ladakh) during 2020-21 and the current year under Anganwadi Services is placed at Annexure-II and fund released under POSHAN Abhiyaan (NE States and UT of Ladakh) is placed at Annexure-III.

The Ministry is also implementing a centrally sponsored scheme namely Child Protection Services (CPS) Scheme under which support is provided to States and UT Governments for delivering services for children in need of care and protection and children in conflict with law. The Child Care Institutions (CCIs) under the CPS scheme provide support inter-alia age-appropriate education, access to vocational training, recreation, health care, counselling etc. State-wise statement of funds released, number of CCIs and beneficiaries covered in the North-Eastern States and UT of Ladakh under Child Protection Services Scheme during the last three years is at Annexure-V.

Anganwadi Services is an ongoing Scheme of Government of India. Revamping of Anganwadis is a continuous process for which various steps have been taken from time to time for improving the conditions of Anganwadi Centres across the country. Following measures have been taken for upgradation of facilities at Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) across the country (including North-Eastern States and Union Territory of Ladakh).

Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) have been provided with Smart Phones for efficient service delivery. Details of Smartphones given to AWWs in North-Eastern States and Union Territory of Ladakh is at Annexure-IV.

Streamlined guidelines were issued on 13.01.2021, covering several aspects such as quality assurance, roles and responsibilities of duty holders, procedure for procurement, integrating AYUSH concepts and Data management and Monitoring through ‘Poshan Tracker’ for transparency, efficiency and accountability in delivery of Supplementary Nutrition. Smartphones have been provided to AWWs for data feeding in Poshan Tracker.

This information was given by the Union Minister of Women and Child Development, Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani, in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.

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Annexure-I

Statement of AWCs sanctioned & Operational, SNP and PSE beneficiaries under ICDS as on 30.06 2021