The Anganwadi Programme is a flagship initiative of the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD) aimed at tackling nutritional challenges in India. The program has taken a significant stride forward with the introduction of technological elements like the Government e-Market (GeM) and the Poshan Tracker App.
What is Poshan Tracker App?
As part of the PM POSHAN Abhiyaan, the MoWCD launched an app called the Poshan Tracker. This management application serves as a comprehensive tool providing a 360-degree view of the activities of the Anganwadi Centres. By digitizing the tasks performed by Anganwadi Workers, the app facilitates efficient service delivery. Smartphones, procured through the Government e-Market (GeM), have been provided to these workers to support their activities via this app. A designated individual in each state offers technical support for any issues related to downloading and using the Poshan Tracker application.
The Impact of the App
Since the launch of the Poshan Abhiyan in 2018, a total of 10 crore 6 lakh beneficiaries have been registered on the App. This has resulted in a significant decline in the number of girls dropping out between the ages of 11-14 years. In the Northeast and aspirational districts, 22.40 lakh adolescent girls have been identified to be covered under this new scheme falling under Poshan 2.0.
About Poshan Abhiyan
POSHAN Abhiyaan, meaning Prime Minister’s Overarching Scheme for Holistic Nutrition, was initiated on 8th March 2018 in Jhunjhunu district of Rajasthan. It’s primary objectives include reducing Stunting, under-nutrition, anemia among young children, women and adolescent girls, and low birth weight.
Anganwadi Services
Being a Centrally Sponsored Scheme implemented by States/UTs, Anganwadi Services provides a package of six services. These include Supplementary Nutrition, Pre-school Non-formal Education, Nutrition & Health Education, Immunization, Health Check-up, and Referral Services. All eligible beneficiaries, namely, children in the age group of 0-6 years, pregnant women and lactating mothers can avail these services at Anganwadi Centres across the country.
Other Related Initiatives
Several related initiatives that supplement the program’s objectives include the Anemia Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013, Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), and PM POshan SHAkti Nirman (PM-POSHAN).
These broad sweeping measures, along with localized efforts, work towards addressing the issue of hidden hunger among diverse sections of the society. Understanding their implications and functionalities helps in accurately gauging their effectiveness. The One Nation One Anganwadi Program is another such initiative aimed at providing easy access to essential services for migrant workers.
