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Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0: Supplementary Nutrition for All Beneficiaries

UPSC / SSC current affairs note · Governance

GovernanceSocial JusticeEconomy

Why in news

The Ministry of Women and Child Development has informed Lok Sabha about the provision of supplementary nutrition to all beneficiaries under Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0. This update highlights the government's efforts to bridge the gap between Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) and Average Daily Intake (ADI) through comprehensive nutrition norms.

Background

Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 is an umbrella scheme for Anganwadi services, launched to address malnutrition and improve nutritional outcomes. It integrates several schemes like Anganwadi Services, Poshan Abhiyan, and Scheme for Adolescent Girls. The revised Schedule-II of the National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013, effective January 2023, introduced updated nutrition norms.

Key facts

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  1. Supplementary nutrition is provided to children (6 months to 6 years), pregnant women, lactating mothers, and adolescent girls (14-18 years).

  2. Nutrition is delivered as Take Home Ration (THR), morning snacks, and hot cooked meals.

  3. For children aged 6-23 months, THR is distributed to mothers/guardians at Anganwadi centers using Face Recognition System (FRS).

  4. Nutrition norms: 6-12 months: 200 kcal and 8-10g protein; 1-3 years: 400 kcal and 15-20g protein; 3-6 years: 400 kcal and 15-20g protein, plus 7 essential micronutrients.

  5. Severely Acute Malnourished (SAM) children (6 months to 5 years) receive additional nutrition as THR.

  6. Revised norms are based on dietary diversity, providing quality protein, healthy fats, and micronutrients like calcium, zinc, iron, dietary folate, vitamins A, B6, and B12.

  7. States/UTs have flexibility to design menus based on local food habits, cultural preferences, and indigenous ingredients.

  8. The information was given by Minister of State for Women and Child Development, Smt. Savitri Thakur, in a Lok Sabha reply.

  9. The scheme aims to bridge the gap between Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) and Average Daily Intake (ADI).

Prelims pointers

  • Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0
  • National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013
  • Schedule-II of NFSA revised in January 2023
  • Take Home Ration (THR)
  • Face Recognition System (FRS)
  • Severely Acute Malnourished (SAM) children
  • Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA)
  • Average Daily Intake (ADI)
  • Ministry of Women and Child Development
  • Lok Sabha

Mains angles

  • Discuss the effectiveness of supplementary nutrition programs in addressing malnutrition in India.
  • Critically examine the role of technology (like FRS) in ensuring transparency and efficiency in welfare schemes.
  • Analyze the significance of revised nutrition norms under NFSA 2013 in improving nutritional outcomes.