Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0: Six Services Package
UPSC / SSC current affairs note
Why in news
The Ministry of Women and Child Development has launched the 'Pankhudi Portal' to facilitate collaborations under Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, Mission Shakti, and Mission Vatsalya. The press release details the six services provided through Anganwadi centers, including supplementary nutrition, pre-school education, immunization, health check-ups, and referral services. It also highlights the 'Poshan Tracker' digital application for real-time monitoring of beneficiaries and services.
Background
Under the 15th Finance Commission, components for nutrition support for children under 6, pregnant women, lactating mothers, and adolescent girls (14-18 years); early childhood care and education (3-6 years); and Anganwadi infrastructure including modern upgraded Saksham Anganwadis were restructured under Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0.
Key facts
Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 provides a package of six services through Anganwadi centers: Supplementary Nutrition (SNP), Pre-school Non-formal Education, Nutrition & Health Education, Immunization, Health Check-up, and Referral Services.
Three services (Immunization, Health Check-up, Referral) are health-related and delivered through NHM and public health infrastructure.
Eligible beneficiaries: children up to 6 years, pregnant women, lactating mothers, and adolescent girls (14-18 years) in aspirational districts and all districts of North East region.
Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) and Anganwadi Helpers (AHs) are honorary workers from the local community, receiving honorarium: AWW ₹4,500/month (increased from ₹3,000) and AH ₹2,250/month (increased from ₹1,500) since 1 Oct 2018.
Performance-based incentive of ₹500/month for AWW and ₹250/month for AH is also provided.
'Poshan Tracker' digital application enables real-time monitoring of Anganwadi centers, workers, and beneficiaries, including daily attendance, ECCE activities, growth monitoring, and provision of Hot Cooked Meal (HCM) and Take Home Ration (THR).
The scheme is universal with no barriers to registration; any beneficiary willing to undergo eKYC with Face Recognition System (FRS) is entitled to benefits.
District-wise details of beneficiaries, infrastructure, and service delivery are available on Poshan Tracker website: https://www.poshantracker.in/statistics.
Prelims pointers
- Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0
- Pankhudi Portal
- Poshan Tracker
- Anganwadi Workers (AWW) honorarium: ₹4,500/month
- Anganwadi Helpers (AH) honorarium: ₹2,250/month
- Performance-based incentive: AWW ₹500/month, AH ₹250/month
- Six services: SNP, Pre-school Education, Nutrition & Health Education, Immunization, Health Check-up, Referral
- Beneficiaries: children 0-6 years, pregnant women, lactating mothers, adolescent girls 14-18 years
- eKYC with Face Recognition System (FRS)
- 15th Finance Commission restructuring
Mains angles
- Discuss the role of Anganwadi centers in addressing malnutrition and early childhood care in India.
- Critically examine the effectiveness of Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 in improving nutritional outcomes.
- Analyze the significance of digital tools like Poshan Tracker in governance and service delivery.
- Evaluate the challenges faced by Anganwadi workers and the adequacy of their honorarium.