Latest news with #SakshamAnganwadi
The Hindu
12-07-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Centre to roll out biometric-based registration under Poshan 2.0 from August 1
Union Minister for Women and Child Development Annpurna Devi on Saturday (July 12, 2025) announced that beneficiary registration under the Centre's Poshan 2.0 scheme will be carried out through biometric authentication, starting August 1. The move aims to enhance targeting and improve service delivery under the scheme. Speaking at a Ministry zonal meeting at Kevadia in the Narmada district, Ms. Devi said the adoption of digital tools, such as the face recognition system used under Saksham Anganwadi, would bring greater transparency, accountability, and governance to the programme. Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 is an integrated nutrition support initiative catering to children, adolescent girls, pregnant women, and lactating mothers. The Union Budget for 2025-26 has allocated ₹4.49 lakh crore for this initiative, covering 273 schemes by 49 Ministries in a push towards gender-inclusive governance, the Minister said. Digital tools for better governance To enhance capacity-building, dedicated learning modules for Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 will be hosted on the iGOT Karmayogi platform for use by field functionaries nationwide, she added. Ms. Devi urged States and Union Territories to strengthen their grievance redressal mechanisms, improve digital literacy among adolescent girls and young mothers, and ensure timely delivery of services through Anganwadis. She also proposed transforming the Poshan Helpline into an interactive platform for citizen engagement and service quality feedback. Ms. Devi highlighted the Aadhaar-enabled Direct Benefit Transfers under the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana as a key transparency measure and encouraged all States and UTs to adopt the Mission Vatsalya portal for real-time data monitoring. Participants at the zonal meeting included Minister of State Savitri Thakur, Ministers from the Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan governments, and senior officials from five western States. Discussions focused on convergence under Mission Shakti, Mission Vatsalya, and Poshan 2.0, with States showcasing best practices and innovations.
Time of India
04-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Defunct state women commission a concern in J'khand: Union min
M inistry of women and child development minister and Koderma MP Annapurna Devi talks to Kritika Tiwary on her agenda and ongoing efforts to uplift women and children nationwide. Excerpts: How many women and child development projects are currently active in Jharkhand? At present, there are over 37,815 anganwadi centres in the state. Of them, more than 16,700 centres have been approved under the Saksham Anganwadi initiative, which includes facilities like clean drinking water with RO systems, LED lights, Poshan Vatika (nutrition gardens), and water harvesting structures. These upgrades aim to provide a healthier environment to children and mothers. How effective is the women and child related schemes in the state? Twenty four districts have active 'One Stop Centres', and approval has been granted for 11 more in large or underserved districts. These centres support women in distress. Women can call the 181 Women Helpline. Upon receiving the call, the team tracks the location and immediately dispatches support. We also have counsellors and legal aid (DLSA) tied up with every centre. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Why seniors are rushing to get this Internet box – here's why! Techno Mag Learn More Undo Every district has a dedicated women empowerment hub. Are there specific projects for children in need of protection? Yes, there are over 50 Child Care Institutions (CCIs) in the state that cater to both CNCP (children in need of care and protection) and CCL (children in conflict with law). Separate facilities exist for boys and girls, and we also coordinate with Childline 1098. What financial schemes are provided under the PMMVY in state? Under the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, the state has provided benefits to approximately 9.3 lakh women. For the first child, mothers receive Rs 5,000, and for the second child (if a girl), they receive Rs 6,000. In the last financial year alone, Rs 421 crore was disbursed directly to beneficiaries. Beneficiaries can now self-register digitally for schemes. Are any new infrastructure projects sanctioned recently? Seven new working women hostels have been sanctioned in Jharkhand. We've also approved Palna-cum-creche facilities at anganwadi centres. Has the Centre assessed Jharkhand's performance? Yes. Performance varies across schemes. States like Haryana (Palna), Tamil Nadu (hostels), and Gujarat (nutrition) are doing well in respective areas. In Jharkhand, despite progress, the absence of a state women's commission for the past 6 years is a concern.
Time of India
04-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Defunct state women commission a concern in Jharkhand: Union min
1 2 3 Ministry of women and child development minister and Koderma MP Annpurna Devi talks to Kritika Tiwary on her agenda and ongoing efforts to uplift women and children nationwide. Excerpts: Q. How many women and child development projects are currently active in Jharkhand? At present, there are over 37,815 anganwadi centres operational across the state. Among them, more than 16,700 centres have been approved under the Saksham Anganwadi initiative, which includes facilities like clean drinking water with RO systems, LED lighting, Poshan Vatika (nutrition gardens), and water harvesting structures. These upgrades aim to provide a healthier environment to children and mothers. Q. How effective is the women and child related schemes in the state? Twenty four districts have active 'One Stop Centres', and approval has been granted for 11 more in large or underserved districts. These centres support women in distress by offering immediate rescue, legal assistance, medical aid, police intervention, counselling, and temporary shelter for up to 25 days. Women can call the 181 Women Helpline. Upon receiving the call, the team tracks the location and immediately dispatches support. Based on the need whether legal help, police support, or medical attention the necessary services are provided. We also have counsellors and legal aid (DLSA) tied up with every OSC. Every district has a dedicated women empowerment hub, which serves as a convergence point for all Central and state schemes such as Mission Shakti, PMMVY, and Saksham Anganwadi. Q. Are there specific projects for children in need of protection? Yes, there are over 50 Child Care Institutions (CCIs) in the state that cater to both CNCP (Children in Need of Care and Protection) and CCL (Children in Conflict with Law). Separate facilities exist for boys and girls, and we also coordinate with Childline 1098, which is active even at railway stations and remote pockets to rescue and assist vulnerable children. Q. What financial schemes are provided under the PMMVY in state? Under the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), the state has provided benefits to approximately 9.3 lakh women. For the first child, mothers receive Rs 5,000, and for the second child (if a girl), they receive Rs 6,000. In the last financial year alone, Rs 421 crore was disbursed directly to beneficiaries. Beneficiaries can now self-register digitally through mobile-based platforms for schemes like PMMVY, Poshan Tracker, etc. Currently, around 31 lakh beneficiaries are connected digitally under various nutrition and maternal health schemes in state. Q. Are any new infrastructure projects sanctioned recently? Seven new working women hostels have been sanctioned in Jharkhand with a total cost of Rs 167 crore, offering safe accommodation to employed women. We've also approved Palna-cum-creche facilities at anganwadi centres to support working mothers. We've ensured district-level outreach for both women and children in need. Q. Has the Centre assessed Jharkhand's performance? Yes. Performance varies across schemes. States like Haryana (Palna), Tamil Nadu (hostels), and Gujarat (nutrition) are doing well in respective areas. In Jharkhand, despite progress, the absence of a state women's commission for the past 6 years is a concern. The Centre is ready to provide all support, but the state must strengthen implementation, especially in Saksham Anganwadi rollouts, which are still lagging.
The Hindu
01-07-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Using tech to empower women and children
Empowerment begins with access — access to rights, to services, to protection, and to opportunity. Over the past decade, this access has been redefined and democratised through the focused commitment of the Modi government to build a more inclusive and digitally empowered India. The Ministry of Women and Child Development has been at the forefront of this transformation. Guided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of Viksit Bharat@2047, the Ministry has integrated technology into its programmes, ensuring that benefits reach the last mile swiftly, transparently, and efficiently. What was once aspirational is now operational thanks to the government's emphasis on digital public infrastructure, real-time data systems, and responsive governance. With steadfast focus on care, protection, and empowerment, the Ministry has strengthened access to nutrition, education, legal safeguards, and essential entitlements, ensuring that women and children lead healthier, more secure lives, and also emerge as confident leaders and change makers of Amrit Kaal. Transformative initiatives A cornerstone of this transformation is the Saksham Anganwadi initiative, designed to modernise and empower over 2 lakh Anganwadi centres across India. These centres are being upgraded with smart infrastructure, digital devices, and innovative learning tools, enabling more effective delivery of nutrition, healthcare, and pre-school education services. The integration of services provided by 14 lakh Anganwadi centres across the nation with the Poshan Tracker has enabled real-time data entry, performance monitoring, and evidence-based policy interventions. Over 10.14 crore beneficiaries, including pregnant women, lactating mothers, children under six, and adolescent girls, are now registered on Poshan Tracker. By equipping Anganwadi workers with smartphones and comprehensive training, the initiative ensures quality service delivery at the last mile. At its core, Poshan Tracker is driving the national vision of a Swasth Bharat, Suposhit Bharat. It reimagines Anganwadi centres as digitally empowered community hubs that bridge the urban-rural divide. Recognised with the Prime Minister's Award for Excellence in Public Administration (2025), it also supports Poshan Bhi, Padhai Bhi, providing digital training modules to Anganwadi workers for early childhood education. Further, to reduce leakages in the Supplementary Nutrition Programme, a facial recognition system has been introduced to ensure that eligible beneficiaries alone receive nutrition support. Beyond nutrition, the Ministry is ensuring safety and support for women through technology-led platforms. The SHe-Box portal provides single-window access to every woman to lodge complaints under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013. It enables online redressal and tracking. Meanwhile, the Mission Shakti dashboard and mobile app provide integrated assistance to women in distress, connecting them to the nearest one-stop centre, now operational in nearly every district. These interventions exemplify how technology is being used not just for efficiency, but for justice, dignity, and empowerment. The Modi government has also operationalised the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) — a game changer in maternal welfare. Under the PMMVY Rules, 2022, pregnant women receive ₹5,000 for their first child. Under Mission Shakti, the benefit extends to ₹6,000 if the second child is a girl — promoting positive reinforcement for daughters. Delivered through a paperless Direct Benefit Transfer system, about ₹19,000 crore has reached over 4 crore women beneficiaries since its inception. PMMVY is a fully digital programme — leveraging Aadhaar-based authentication, mobile-based registration, doorstep assistance from Anganwadi/ASHA workers, and real-time dashboards. A dedicated grievance redressal module and citizen-facing portal ensure transparency, trust, and accountability, strengthening the government's commitment to Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao. Tangible outcomes These targeted efforts are delivering tangible outcomes. The latest reports from the Health Management Information System of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) reveal that the Sex Ratio at Birth has increased from 918 (2014-15) to 930 (2023-24). The Maternal Mortality Rate has declined to 97 per 1,000 births (2018-20) from 130 per 1,000 births (2014-16). Digital transformation has played a key role in child protection and welfare. Under the Juvenile Justice Act (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, the Ministry has strengthened the adoption ecosystem through the CARINGS portal (Child Adoption Resource Information and Guidance System). This ensures a more transparent, accessible, and efficient adoption process. Digitisation has also improved monitoring of child care institutions, foster care placements, and statutory support structures under the Act. Platforms developed by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights are tracking violations of child rights. The Mission Vatsalya dashboard strengthens convergence and coordination among various child welfare stakeholders. This is New India where governance meets technology, and policy meets purpose. Over the last decade, the Ministry has not only adapted to digital change, but championed it. Annapurna Devi is the Union Minister of Women and Child Development
