Mission Saksham Anganwadi & Poshan 2.0: Advancing Nutritional Security and Early Childhood Development.

Policy Update
Riya Rawat

Background

Malnutrition remains one of India’s most pressing public health challenges, affecting millions of children and mothers across the country. According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), approximately 35.5% of children under five years old in India suffer from stunting, 19.3% from wasting, and 32.1% from being underweight. These figures highlight the urgent need for a comprehensive and targeted intervention. Malnutrition not only affects individual health but also impairs cognitive development, reduces workforce productivity, and escalates healthcare costs, ultimately impeding India’s economic progress.

Recognizing this, the Government of India launched Mission Saksham Anganwadi & Poshan 2.0 (Mission Poshan 2.0) in 2021, consolidating existing nutrition and child development programs into a unified framework aimed at tackling malnutrition through an integrated, lifecycle approach. Administered by the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD), Mission Poshan 2.0 is one of the world’s largest nutrition-focused initiatives. By converging multiple schemes, the mission seeks to enhance service delivery, leverage technological advancements, and upgrade Anganwadi infrastructure to create a more efficient and responsive system. Additionally, the mission underscores the importance of community participation, ensuring that local governance bodies play an active role in implementation.

Source : save jammu instagram account

Functioning

Mission Poshan 2.0 integrates three major schemes: Anganwadi Services, POSHAN Abhiyaan, and the Scheme for Adolescent Girls (SAG). Each scheme plays a distinct role, contributing to a holistic approach to early childhood care and maternal health.

• Anganwadi Services: This component provides six essential services—supplementary nutrition, pre-school non-formal education, nutrition and health education, immunization, health check-ups, and referral services. The National Health Mission (NHM) collaborates with Anganwadi Services to ensure the effective delivery of health-related interventions, such as immunization and maternal care. The integration with NHM has helped improve maternal and child health indicators by facilitating seamless coordination between healthcare workers and Anganwadi staff.
• POSHAN Abhiyaan: Launched in 2018, POSHAN Abhiyaan is designed to drive behavioral change regarding nutrition, hygiene, and maternal care. It promotes a multi-sectoral approach by integrating different ministries and departments, emphasizing awareness campaigns, capacity building, and technological monitoring to enhance nutritional outcomes. The Jan Andolan initiative under POSHAN Abhiyaan plays a crucial role in community engagement, mobilizing local stakeholders to support nutrition interventions. The initiative also leverages AI-based data analytics to monitor nutritional trends and facilitate evidence-based policy adjustments.
• Scheme for Adolescent Girls (SAG): This program focuses on adolescent girls (aged 14–18) in aspirational districts and the Northeast region. It provides supplementary nutrition and health services while also addressing broader socio-economic determinants of malnutrition, such as access to education and skill development. The program encourages life skills training, ensuring that adolescent girls become agents of change within their communities.

Poshan Tracker: A Technological Leap in Nutrition Monitoring

A pivotal innovation under Mission Poshan 2.0 is the Poshan Tracker, an ICT-based governance tool designed to enhance monitoring and transparency in service delivery. Available in 24 languages, the tracker allows real-time tracking of key malnutrition indicators, including stunting, wasting, and underweight prevalence. It automates beneficiary record-keeping, streamlining data collection and minimizing manual errors.

The tracker employs biometric authentication and geotagging, significantly improving accountability and reducing the risk of data manipulation. These features help in tracking individual beneficiaries across different regions, ensuring that resources reach the intended recipients. As of March 2022, 11.04 lakh smartphones were distributed to Anganwadi Workers for data entry. However, the adoption of the tracker has faced challenges. Many Anganwadi workers struggle with smartphone-based data entry due to limited digital literacy and insufficient mobile data allowances. Addressing these obstacles through structured training programs, community-led digital literacy workshops, intuitive user interfaces, and improved technological support will be essential for maximizing the potential of this digital tool.

Source : Digital India website

Budget Allocation and Financial Considerations

The Union Budget 2025-26 allocated ₹21,960 crore to schemes under Mission Saksham Anganwadi & Poshan 2.0, reflecting the government’s commitment to combating malnutrition. However, fund utilization patterns vary across states, with some states like Sikkim and Meghalaya utilizing over 90% of allocated funds, while others like Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh report spending below 55%. Ensuring efficient fund disbursement and capacity-building at the local level is crucial for maximizing impact.

Performance

The impact of Mission Poshan 2.0 has been evident in certain states, with reductions in malnutrition rates reported in Rajasthan, Odisha, Telangana, and Maharashtra. Government data indicates a 4–5% decline in stunting and wasting in targeted districts within these states. However, disparities persist, and the mission’s implementation remains uneven across regions.

In states like Sikkim, Meghalaya, Odisha, Telangana, and Maharashtra, strong community participation has played a pivotal role in improving nutrition outcomes by fostering awareness and ensuring local involvement in program implementation. Timely fund allocation and efficient utilization of resources have enabled these states to roll out initiatives without delays, leading to better service delivery. Additionally, the effective use of technology, particularly the Poshan Tracker, has facilitated real-time monitoring of child growth and malnutrition indicators, allowing for data-driven policy adjustments.

Conversely, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh have faced significant challenges in implementation. Bureaucratic delays in fund disbursement and the absence of decentralized decision-making have slowed progress, preventing timely intervention. A shortage of skilled workforce in Anganwadi centers has further hampered service delivery, limiting the effectiveness of nutrition programs. Moreover, infrastructure deficits, such as inadequate Anganwadi facilities, lack of functional toilets, and insufficient access to clean drinking water, have created barriers to achieving the mission’s objectives, highlighting the urgent need for targeted interventions in these states.

One of the mission’s most innovative initiatives is the Suposhit Gram Panchayat Abhiyaan, which incentivizes over 1,000 Gram Panchayats to improve nutrition services. Gram Panchayats are ranked based on predefined performance indicators such as child growth monitoring data, immunization coverage, and Anganwadi service quality. Top-performing Panchayats receive financial rewards, fostering a culture of competition and accountability at the grassroots level.

Despite these advancements, infrastructure deficits continue to pose significant challenges. Currently, an estimated 40% of Anganwadi Centers lack functional toilets, 35% lack access to clean drinking water, and 25% operate without proper seating or educational materials. Expanding public-private partnerships and increasing targeted funding for infrastructure development can help bridge these gaps.

Emerging Issues & Solutions

• Digital Divide in Implementation: Limited digital literacy among Anganwadi workers and insufficient data access hinder the effective use of digital tools. Structured training programs and partnerships with telecom providers could improve digital literacy and provide subsidized data plans.
• Outdated Financial Norms: The unit cost for supplementary nutrition remains static despite inflation. Regular revisions to align funding with actual costs are necessary to sustain effective implementation.
• Workforce Challenges: Anganwadi workers and helpers often face inadequate salaries and lack of job security. Introducing a standardized honorarium policy along with performance-based incentives can enhance motivation and efficiency.
• Infrastructure Deficits: Many Anganwadi Centers continue to operate with suboptimal infrastructure. Expanding PPP models and leveraging CSR investments can attract funding for better facilities.
• Funding and Accountability: Inefficient fund utilization in certain states remains a concern. Implementing independent third-party audits and impact-based financing models can enhance transparency and fund utilization.
• Gender-Sensitive Policy Implementation: Many Anganwadi workers are women, and their working conditions need improvement. Enhanced maternal leave policies, workplace safety measures, and structured promotion pathways can increase job satisfaction and retention.
• Nutritional Awareness & Behavioral Change: Community-level campaigns and school nutrition programs should be scaled up to reinforce the importance of balanced diets and maternal nutrition, addressing deep-rooted dietary misconceptions.

Source : Economic times article on Malnutrition

Way Forward

Mission Saksham Anganwadi & Poshan 2.0 represents a transformative step toward addressing malnutrition and enhancing early childhood care in India. A stronger financial commitment at both central and state levels is essential for sustaining progress. The revision of financial norms for supplementary nutrition, coupled with increased investments in workforce capacity-building, can significantly enhance service delivery.

Additionally, expanding CSR partnerships and encouraging private sector investment can provide supplementary resources to enhance Anganwadi infrastructure and service quality. A robust monitoring and evaluation mechanism will also be critical to track progress, identify bottlenecks, and drive evidence-based policymaking.

With sustained investment, policy reforms, and adaptive strategies, India can not only achieve its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2 and 3 but also emerge as a global leader in tackling childhood malnutrition and ensuring equitable nutritional security for all.

References

1. Ministry of Women and Child Development. (n.d.). Poshan tracker. Government of India. Retrieved from https://wcd.gov.in/offerings/poshan-tracker
2. Department of Women and Child Development, Government of Delhi. (n.d.). Mission Saksham Anganwadi & Poshan 2.0. Retrieved from https://wcd.delhi.gov.in/sites/default/files/WCD/universal-tab/mission_sa_p_copy_1_1.pdf
3. The Hindu. (2025, February 1). Budget 2025: Saksham Anganwadi, Poshan 2.0 scheme. Retrieved from https://www.thehindu.com/business/budget/budget-2025-saksham-anganwadi-poshan-20-scheme/article69167391.ece
4. Press Information Bureau. (2024, February 1). Union Budget 2025-26: Focus on women and child development. Government of India. Retrieved from https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2040950
5. Centre for Budget and Governance Accountability. (2024, April). An explanatory analysis of Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0. Retrieved from https://www.cbgaindia.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/An-Explanatory-Analysis-of-Mission-Saksham-Anganwadi-and-Poshan-2.0.pdf
6. Press Information Bureau. (2025, February 1). Union Budget 2025: Cost norms for nutritional support programmes to be enhanced. Government of India. Retrieved from https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2109222
7. Accountability Initiative, Centre for Policy Research. (2023). Saksham Anganwadi budget briefs 2023. Retrieved from https://accountabilityindia.in/publication/saksham-anganwadi-budget-briefs-2023-accountability-initiative-centre-for-policy-research/
8. ANI News. (2025, February 7). Anganwadi workers empowered with smartphones under Mission Poshan 2.0. Retrieved from https://www.aninews.in/news/national/general-news/anganwadi-workers-empowered-with-smartphones-under-mission-poshan-2020250207205526/
9. The New Indian Express. (2025, February 1). Nutrition, education, safety get priority in budget for women & child development ministry. Retrieved from https://www.newindianexpress.com/business/union-budget/2025/Feb/01/nutrition-education-safety-get-priority-in-budget-for-women-child-development-ministry
10. Deccan Herald. (2025, February 1). Union Budget 2025: Cost norms for nutritional support programmes to be enhanced, says FM Sitharaman. Retrieved from https://www.deccanherald.com/business/union-budget/union-budget-2025-cost-norms-for-nutritional-support-programmes-to-be-enhanced-fm-sitharaman-3384030
11. Business Standard. (2024, September 29). 11,000 Saksham Anganwadi centres to be inaugurated at Poshan Maah. Retrieved from https://www.business-standard.com/india-news/11-000-saksham-anganwadi-centres-to-be-inaugurated-at-poshan-maah-124092900164_1.html

About the Author– Riya Rawat is a researcher at the Impact and Policy Research Institute (IMPRI), pursuing a second master’s degree in Political Science. With a strong background in public policy, gender studies, and international relations, her research interests focus on policy development, analysis, and global affairs.

Acknowledgement– The author extends sincere gratitude to Dr. Arjun Kumar and Aasthaba Jadeja for their invaluable guidance and support. 

Disclaimer: All views expressed in the article belong solely to the author and not necessarily to the organisation.

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