Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0
Let us begin with a simple but profound question — Why is nutrition important for a nation?
The answer lies in a simple logic: A nourished citizen is a productive citizen. Nutrition impacts a child’s physical and cognitive development, a mother’s health, and eventually, a country’s human capital. Recognising this, the Government of India launched a consolidated mission called Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, starting from 2021–22 to 2025–26, to tackle malnutrition in a strategic and focused manner.
🔍 Quick Overview
| Feature | Description |
| Name | Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 (also called Mission Poshan 2.0) |
| Type | Centrally Sponsored Scheme |
| Target Beneficiaries | Children (0–6 years), Adolescent Girls (14–18 years), Pregnant & Lactating Mothers |
| Implementation Period | 2021–22 to 2025–26 |
| Nodal Monitoring Authority | District Magistrate |
🎯 Objectives: What Does the Mission Aim to Do?
- Human Capital Development – By ensuring foundational nutrition in early life, it lays the groundwork for cognitive, emotional, and physical development.
- Malnutrition Eradication – Targets undernutrition, stunting, wasting, and anaemia.
- Behavioural Change – Promotes awareness on healthy eating habits and lifestyle through community engagement.
📜 Background: The Legacy of ICDS
This mission builds on the foundation of ICDS (Integrated Child Development Services), started in 1975, one of the world’s largest early childhood care programs. ICDS provided:
- Supplementary Nutrition
- Pre-School Education
- Health & Nutrition Education
- Immunization (under NHM)
- Health Check-ups
- Referral Services
These services were delivered through Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) — the grassroots institutions for maternal and child care in India.
🧩 Key Components of Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0
Let’s understand the four pillars of this scheme:
1️⃣ Nutrition Support
- Provided via Supplementary Nutrition Programme (SNP)
- Beneficiaries:
- Children (6 months to 6 years)
- Pregnant Women and Lactating Mothers (PWLM)
- Adolescent Girls (14–18 years) in Aspirational Districts and North Eastern Regions
2️⃣ Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE)
- For 0–3 years: Early stimulation through toys, rhymes, and parental guidance
- For 3–6 years: ECCE curriculum aligned with NEP 2020
3️⃣ Anganwadi Infrastructure
- Upgradation of 2 lakh Anganwadi Centres into Saksham Anganwadis — meaning empowered, tech-enabled and child-friendly centres
4️⃣ Poshan Abhiyaan Integration
Built on the three pillars of:
- Convergence (between ministries and schemes)
- Governance (robust monitoring)
- Capacity Building (training frontline workers)
It especially focuses on:
- Maternal Nutrition
- Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF)
- Treatment Protocols for SAM and MAM
- AYUSH-Based Wellness Practices
🌾 Special Focus: Diet Diversity & Traditional Knowledge
India’s strength lies in its diversity — and this mission celebrates it through:
- Promotion of local produce: green vegetables, fruits, medicinal plants, millets, and fortified rice
- Millets to be included at least once a week in Take-Home Rations and Hot Cooked Meals
- Integration of traditional and indigenous food practices
- Establishment of Poshan Vatikas (Nutrition Gardens) around AWCs, schools, and Gram Panchayats
🆔 Beneficiary Registration and Access
- Aadhaar-Based Registration: Children can avail benefits using mother’s Aadhaar if they don’t have one
- Ensures targeted delivery and better tracking
🛠️ Monitoring, Accountability & Technology Integration
- District Magistrate (DM): Acts as nodal officer to monitor progress at the district level
- Social Audits: Done by Poshan Panchayats, Mothers’ Groups, and Village Health, Sanitation and Nutrition Committees (VHSNCs)
Digital Tools:
- Poshan Tracker App – Records child’s growth indicators like stunting, wasting, underweight
- Real-time data helps in timely interventions
🧠 Educational and Behavioural Initiatives
- Poshan Bhi, Padhai Bhi (PBPB) –
A New Education Policy-aligned program combining nutrition, early education, and play-based learning - Rashtriya Poshan Maah –
Celebrated every September to raise awareness and promote community-led nutrition movements
📋 Other Notable Initiatives
| Initiative | Description |
| Kishori Health Cards | For tracking adolescent girls’ BMI, IFA supplementation, immunization, etc. |
| Bhartiya Poshan Krishi Kosh (BPKK) | Database of nutrition-rich traditional crops from across India |
| Suposhit Gram Panchayat Abhiyaan | Recognizes and rewards Panchayats/districts excelling in nutrition outcomes |
🔄 Clarification: PM POSHAN vs Mission Poshan 2.0
A common confusion among aspirants is between:
- PM POSHAN (Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman): This is the Mid-Day Meal scheme under NFSA 2013
- Mission Poshan 2.0: Focuses on early childhood nutrition through Anganwadis, not school meals.
📌 Conclusion: Why It Matters for UPSC?
For UPSC, this scheme is important in GS-II (Governance, Social Justice), GS-III (Health, Agriculture), and Essay or Ethics papers. It integrates nutrition, gender empowerment, child rights, health systems, and decentralized governance — all critical themes in civil services preparation.
Also, remember: Nutrition is not just about food. It’s about equity, access, and awareness.
Mission Poshan 2.0 is a symbol of India’s commitment to transform from a food-secure nation to a nutrition-secure nation.