About the Scheme
Saksham Anganwadi and POSHAN 2.0 - integrated nutrition support addressing malnutrition in children, women.
Target Beneficiaries: Children 0-6 years, pregnant women, lactating mothers through Anganwadi centers. Nutrition and early childhood education.
Implementing Agency: Ministry of Women and Child Development (through State Governments and Anganwadi Centres)
Key Features
- World's largest integrated early childhood program.
- Provides a package of six services: Supplementary Nutrition, Pre-school Non-formal Education, Nutrition & Health Education, Immunization, Health Check-up, and Referral Services.
- Implemented through a network of Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) in villages and urban slums.
- Focuses on holistic development of children and empowerment of mothers.
- Launched in 1975, a landmark initiative for child welfare.
Eligibility Criteria
- Children below 6 years of age.
- Pregnant women.
- Lactating mothers.
Benefits
- Supplementary nutrition to bridge the calorie-protein gap.
- Access to early childhood care and education.
- Improved immunization coverage for children and mothers.
- Regular health check-ups and referral services for illness.
- Health and nutrition education for mothers.
Application Process
- Visit the nearest Anganwadi Centre (AWC).
- Meet the Anganwadi Worker (AWW) or Helper.
- Register the child/mother by providing necessary documents.
- Enrollment is typically facilitated by the AWW through community outreach.
Budget Allocation
20554
UPSC Relevance
GS Paper: GS2
Prelims Relevance8%
Mains Relevance9%
Syllabus Tags
Malnutrition in IndiaMaternal and Child HealthEarly Childhood Care and Education (ECCE)Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to health and educationWomen and Child Development PoliciesAnganwadi System