Significant measures taken by the Ministry of Women and Child Development to improve nutritional outcomes under Mission Poshan 2.0,

To address the challenges 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. The Mission is being implemented in all States and UTs in the country. Rs. 21,960 crores have been allocated under the Mission Poshan 2.0 in Financial Year 2025-26.

The Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD) has launched 'Poshan Tracker' digital application, an ICT based tool, for monitoring and tracking of all activities related to Anganwadi Centres (AWCs), Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) and beneficiaries on defined indicators under Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0. Technology under Poshan Tracker is being leveraged for dynamic identification of stunting, wasting, under-weight prevalence among children under 5 years of age. The State wise information on nutrition indicators in the country is available on the Poshan Tracker public dashboard at the given link: https://www.poshantracker.in/statistics.

As per the Cause of Death Report (2021-23) released by Sample Registration System-Registrar General of India (SRS-RGI), malnutrition is not identified as a direct cause of death in children; however, it can increase morbidity and mortality by reducing resistance to infections.

Under the Mission Poshan 2.0, significant measures have been taken by the MoWCD to improve nutritional outcomes:

• Supplementary Nutrition is provided to Children (6 months to 6 years), Pregnant Women, Lactating Mothers and Adolescent Girls in accordance with the nutrition norms contained in Schedule-II of the National Food Security Act, 2013. Additional Nutrition is also provided to Severely Acute Malnourished (SAM) children in form of Take-Home Ration (THR).

• One of the major activities undertaken is Community Mobilization and Awareness Advocacy in the form of Jan Andolans (Poshan Pakhwada- bi-annually and Poshan Maah-annually) to educate people on nutritional aspects as adoption of good nutrition habit requires sustained efforts for behavioural change.

• Ministry of Women & Child Development and Ministry of Health & Family Welfare have jointly released the Protocol for Management of Malnutrition in Children to prevent and treat severely acute malnutrition in children and for reducing associated morbidity and mortality.

• To encourage diet-diversity and consumption of wholesome local produce, Poshan Vatikas have been developed at Anganwadi Centres (AWCs).

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). This includes interventions to address nutrition concerns among adolescent girls, pregnant women, lactating mothers and children under 5 years, across the country. Details are placed below:

• Anemia Mukt Bharat (AMB) addresses the high prevalence of anemia through the 7X7X7 strategy covering seven beneficiary age groups and seven interventions through robust institutional mechanisms.

• Nutrition Rehabilitation centers (NRCs) to provide in-patient medical and nutritional care to children under 5 years suffering from Moderate and Severe Acute Malnourishment with medical complications.

• Mothers' Absolute Affection (MAA) Programme to improve breastfeeding coverage.

• Lactation Management Centres to ensure availability of safe, pasteurized Donor Human Milk for feeding of sick, preterm and low birth weight babies admitted in Neonatal Intensive Care Units and Special Newborn Care Units.

• Under National Deworming Day (NDD) albendazole tablets are administered to reduce the Soil Transmitted Helminth (STH) infestation.

• 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.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Women and Child Development Smt. Savitri Thakur in Lok Sabha in reply to a question.

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