Government takes measures for monitoring growth of children and improving facilities at Anganwadi centres

The central government, on December 8, announced that the Ministry of Women and Child Developme has developed a digital platform, POSHAN Tracker, to promote real time data with analytics. Over 12 lakh Anganwadi centres across the country are uploading data on POSHAN Tracker and approximately 9.84 crore beneficiaries including children up to six years of age, adolescent girls, pregnant women and Lactating Mothers are registered on the same. 

As of now, more than 11 lakh smart phones and more than 11 lakh Growth Monitoring Devices (GMDs) have been procured by States and UTs under POSHAN Abhiyaan. The Anganwadi Workers periodically measure height and weight of children upto the age of six years and upload in POSHAN Tracker and this is to promote regular growth monitoring of children, whereby Anganwadi Workers are being incentivised with Rs. 500/per month.

Improvement in the facilities of these centres is a continuous process for which various steps have been taken from time to time for improving the condition. Following measures have been taken for improving facilities:

Revised joint guidelines were issued by Ministries of Women & Child Development, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj for construction of 4 lakh AWC buildings across the country under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) in convergence with Anganwadi Services (ICDS Scheme).

Under Swachhta Action Plan, Rs.10,000/-per AWC is provided for drinking water facilities and INR 12,000 per AWC for toilet facilities. Grants are sanctioned for purchase of water filter, furniture, equipment, etc.  Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) have been provided with smart phones for efficient service delivery.

Streamlined guidelines were issued earlier this year in January, 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 the POSHAN Tracker for transparency, efficiency and accountability in delivery of Supplementary Nutrition.

Information regarding the same was shared on December 8, 2021, by Union Minister of Women and Child Development, Smriti Zubin Irani, in a written reply sent to Rajya Sabha.