Saksham Anganwadi and Mission Poshan 2.0

Saksham Anganwadi and Mission Poshan 2.0: A Comprehensive Analysis

Introduction

Saksham Anganwadi and Mission Poshan 2.0 represents a comprehensive, integrated approach to combating malnutrition in India through a strategic restructuring of nutrition-focused schemes. Launched during the 15th Finance Commission period (2021-22 to 2025-26), this mission consolidates multiple existing schemes into a unified framework aimed at addressing nutritional deficiencies among vulnerable populations—particularly children (0-6 years), adolescent girls (14-18 years), pregnant women, and lactating mothers. The program reflects the government’s commitment to achieving Sustainable Development Goals 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 4 (Quality Education) through enhanced nutrition delivery and early childhood care.​

Understanding the Framework

Mission Poshan 2.0 operates as an integrated nutrition support programme that encompasses three major scheme components previously implemented separately: Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), POSHAN Abhiyaan, and Scheme for Adolescent Girls (SAG), along with the National Creche Scheme. This consolidation addresses critical gaps that existed in separate implementation by creating a convergent ecosystem focused on both nutrition content and delivery mechanisms. The restructured approach emphasizes strategic shifts in how nutrition is provided rather than merely distributing existing food items.​

The term “Saksham” (meaning capable or empowered) reflects the mission’s philosophy—upgrading Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) from basic nutritional distribution points into comprehensive early childhood development centres with modern infrastructure and enhanced service capacity.​

Core Objectives and Strategic Goals

The overarching objectives of Mission Poshan 2.0 are multifaceted and address both immediate nutritional needs and long-term human capital development:​

Primary Objectives include contributing to human capital development through improved nutritional status, addressing the persistent challenge of malnutrition characterized by stunting, wasting, anaemia, and low birth weight, promoting nutrition awareness and fostering good eating habits for sustainable health and well-being, and addressing nutrition-related deficiencies through targeted, evidence-based strategies. The mission operates on the understanding that the first 1,000 days of a child’s life (from conception to two years) are critical for lifetime health, development, and productivity.​

Key Components and Implementation Strategy

1. Saksham Anganwadi Infrastructure Upgradation

Under Mission Poshan 2.0, approximately 2 lakh Anganwadi Centres are being strengthened and upgraded at a rate of 40,000 AWCs annually to become “Saksham Anganwadis.” These upgraded centres feature significant infrastructure improvements beyond traditional AWCs, including:​

Modern Physical Infrastructure: LED screens for educational content, RO machines for safe drinking water, smart learning equipment with audio-visual aids, Poshan Vatikas (nutrition gardens) for growing micronutrient-rich vegetables, and improved sanitation facilities. Additionally, internet and Wi-Fi connectivity is being provided through BharatNet infrastructure where available, transforming AWCs into technology-enabled centres.​

Implications for Service Delivery: These upgrades enable AWCs to function as comprehensive learning and nutrition centres rather than merely food distribution points. The improved infrastructure supports early childhood care and education (ECCE) activities essential for cognitive, emotional, and social development of young children, while simultaneously strengthening nutrition service delivery.​

2. Nutritional Content Innovation and Diversification

A fundamental shift in Mission Poshan 2.0 is moving from generic food distribution to strategically designed nutritional interventions addressing specific deficiencies. Key strategies include:​

Food Fortification and Quality Enhancement: The mission emphasizes distribution of fortified food grains, particularly fortified rice and wheat, to address micronutrient deficiencies. Over 12.87 lakh metric tonnes of fortified rice have been allocated to improve micronutrient intake and control anaemia among women and children. Food quality is now tested in accredited laboratories, ensuring nutritional standards are met.​

Dietary Diversification and Millets Integration: Instead of monotonous diets, the mission promotes diet diversity through inclusion of dark green leafy vegetables, lentils, vitamin C-rich fruits, and millets. Millets, recognized for their high nutritional value and climate resilience, are mandated for inclusion at least once weekly in Hot Cooked Meals and Take-Home Rations. This approach not only improves nutrition but also supports local agriculture and food sovereignty.​

Local Food Traditions: The mission incorporates traditional, locally-sourced ingredients like jaggery and indigenous plants such as moreng (sahjan/drumstick), which provide concentrated nutrition in smaller volumes, making programmes more culturally appropriate and economically sustainable.​

3. Focus on Vulnerable Groups

Maternal Nutrition receives specific emphasis through protocols addressing pregnant women and lactating mothers, recognizing their nutritional role in child development. Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) Norms have been established to standardize appropriate nutrition from birth through six years. Treatment of Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM) and Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) now follows a Community-Based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) protocol developed jointly by Women & Child Development and Health ministries, enabling early identification and treatment while preventing associated morbidity and mortality.​

Adolescent Girl Scheme components target girls aged 14-18 years in aspirational districts and North-Eastern regions, addressing nutritional and health needs during this critical developmental period.​

Technology Integration: Poshan Tracker

Poshan Tracker represents a significant innovation in governance and service delivery monitoring. Rolled out on March 1, 2021, this mobile-based application provides:​

Real-Time Monitoring: The system tracks 13.96 lakh Anganwadi Centres with 10.12 crore beneficiaries registered, enabling dynamic identification of malnutrition cases (stunting, wasting, underweight). Data flows directly from Anganwadi workers through smartphones, eliminating delays inherent in paper-based systems.​

Last-Mile Tracking and Accountability: The application generates home visit alerts for critical beneficiaries, ensuring timely follow-ups and consistent assessments. The Poshan Tracker features Facial Recognition System (FRS) for Take-Home Ration distribution, ensuring benefits reach intended beneficiaries. This technological safeguard addresses concerns about leakage or misappropriation of nutrition support.​

Data-Driven Management: Real-time analytics provide a 360-degree view of individual AWC operations, including daily attendance, growth monitoring, ECCE activity participation, and meal delivery status. This enables supervisors and administrators to identify bottlenecks and implement corrective actions promptly.​

Digital Infrastructure Support: As of recent reports, approximately 11 lakh smartphones have been provided to Anganwadi workers for data entry and application usage, with States/UTs covering internet connectivity costs at Rs. 2,000 per annum per centre.​

Human Resource Development: Capacity Building

Recognizing that infrastructure and technology alone cannot ensure success, the mission prioritizes intensive capacity building of Anganwadi workers through the Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi (PBPB) initiative launched on May 10, 2023.​

PBPB Training Framework: The initiative employs a cascading model where National Master Trainers first train State Level Master Trainers (including CDPOs, supervisors, and resource persons), who subsequently conduct three-day interactive training for Anganwadi workers. This multi-tiered approach ensures consistent quality and contextual relevance across diverse geographic and demographic contexts.​

Curriculum Frameworks: Two comprehensive curriculum frameworks have been developed: “Navchetana”—National Framework for Early Childhood Stimulation for Children from Birth to Three Years (2024) and “Aadharshila”—National Curriculum for Early Childhood Care and Education for Children from Three to Six Years (2024). These frameworks provide weekly calendars of age-appropriate activities, emphasizing play-based learning with attention to creative, cognitive, socio-emotional, and cultural development.​

Training Progress: As of July 2025, 41,360 State Level Master Trainers and 5,62,222 Anganwadi Workers have been trained under PBPB, with ongoing training reaching approximately 8.95 lakh AWWs as of November 2025. The programme addresses not only nutrition delivery but also early childhood education, recognizing these as interconnected developmental needs.​

Implementation and Convergence Strategy

Mission Poshan 2.0 operates on three foundational pillars: Convergence (across multiple ministries and departments), Governance (transparency and accountability), and Capacity-building (of frontline workers and community stakeholders).​

Sectoral Convergence: The mission coordinates efforts across multiple ministries—Women & Child Development (lead agency), Health & Family Welfare, Water Resources, AYUSH, and others—to address nutrition holistically. For instance, the Ministry of AYUSH integrates wellness practices and yoga promotion (“Yoga at Home, Yoga with Family”) alongside nutritional interventions.​

Jan Andolan (Mass Movement): Community engagement occurs through organized activities like Poshan Maah (Nutrition Month) and Poshan Pakhwadas (Nutrition Fortnights) celebrated nationally, combined with 4.17 crore Community-Based Events conducted from April 2022 onwards. Anganwadi workers conduct at least two community-based events monthly to drive behavioural change regarding nutrition practices, food hygiene, and child development.​

Coverage and Scale

As of November 2025, Mission Poshan 2.0 has achieved significant scale:​

• All 36 States and Union Territories are implementing the mission

• Coverage extends to 730 districts including 112 aspirational districts specifically targeted for intensive support

• 2 lakh Anganwadi Centres have been approved for Saksham Anganwadi upgradation

• 1,11,363 Mini AWCs have been sanctioned for upgradation to full-fledged centres with dedicated workers and helpers

• Approximately 10.4 crore eligible beneficiaries are registered and tracked through Poshan Tracker

Challenges and Limitations

Despite significant progress, the mission faces considerable implementation challenges:​

Underutilization of Allocated Funds: Historical data indicates consistent underutilization of allocated budgets. For instance, in 2021-22, despite a revised budget of Rs. 20,000 crore for Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, actual expenditures fell significantly short, suggesting deficiencies in financial planning, execution, and monitoring.​

Cost-Inflation Gap: A critical challenge is the government’s failure to regularly revise costing norms for supplementary nutrition programs to account for inflation. Anganwadi centres struggle to provide adequate meals within outdated cost allocations, compromising nutritional quality. This is particularly problematic given rising food and operational costs.​

Resource and Infrastructure Gaps: While Saksham Anganwadi upgradation is progressing at 40,000 centres annually, given the total of over 10 lakh AWCs, full upgradation would take more than two decades at current pace, leaving many centres inadequately resourced during the transition.

Exclusion Issues: Current programme design sometimes excludes vulnerable populations such as out-of-school children and those from poorest households not registered with Anganwadi centres, limiting universal coverage.

Synergy with Other Initiatives

Mission Poshan 2.0 complements and integrates with other government flagship programmes. The PM-POSHAN Abhiyaan (Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman) in school settings works synergistically for beneficiaries in the overlapping age groups, while coordination with NITI Aayog’s aspirational districts programme prioritizes intensive support in regions with highest malnutrition burdens.

Conclusion

Saksham Anganwadi and Mission Poshan 2.0 represents a paradigm shift in India’s approach to addressing malnutrition—moving from standalone schemes to an integrated, technology-enabled, community-centered ecosystem. By combining improved infrastructure, nutritional innovation, human capacity development, and real-time monitoring through Poshan Tracker, the mission creates multiple intervention points for positive impact. The focus on the critical “first 1,000 days,” maternal nutrition, and adolescent health reflects evidence-based understanding of developmental windows. However, realizing the mission’s full potential requires sustained financial commitment, regular updating of cost norms, complete infrastructure upgradation, and capacity to address remaining coverage gaps. The success of Mission Poshan 2.0 will ultimately be measured not in programme inputs but in tangible improvements in nutritional indicators—reduction in stunting, wasting, anaemia, and ultimately, improved human capital development that transforms India’s demographic dividend into economic prosperity and social progress.​

Government Schemes

Indian Polity