Context:
Union Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD) announced that all Anganwadi Centres across India are now registered on the POSHAN Tracker application.
POSHAN Tracker:
- A mobile-based application developed by the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD).
- Aims to enhance transparency, efficiency, and accountability in delivering nutrition services.
- Features –
- Real-time tracking of attendance, growth monitoring, and nutrition services.
- Auto-generates monthly reports, replacing physical records.
- Available in 24 languages for accessibility across India.
- Beneficiaries – Focuses on pregnant women, lactating mothers, children aged 0-6 years, and adolescent girls.
- Part of – Mission Saksham Anganwadi and POSHAN 2.0, which unifies Anganwadi services, POSHAN Abhiyaan, and the Scheme for Adolescent Girls.
Mission Poshan 2.0:
- Initiative by – Ministry of Women and Child Development
- Focus on reducing malnutrition among children, adolescent girls, pregnant women, and lactating mothers and enhance the quality and delivery of nutritional services.
- Target Group – Children, adolescent girls, pregnant women, and lactating mothers
- Funding – Centrally sponsored scheme being implemented through the State Governments/ UT administrations.
- Components –
- Anganwadi Services – Strengthening and modernizing Anganwadi centers to provide better services and infrastructure.
- Poshan Abhiyaan – A national nutrition mission aimed at reducing stunting, undernutrition, anemia, and low birth weight.
- National Creche Scheme – Providing day-care facilities for children of working mothers.
- Key Features –
- Poshan Maah – Celebrated in September to promote activities like antenatal care, breastfeeding, and healthy eating.
- Poshan Vatika – Establishing nutrition gardens in Anganwadis, schools, and gram panchayats to ensure access to fresh, organic produce
- Community-Based Events (CBEs) – Engaging communities in nutrition awareness and education activities.
- Information, Education & Communication (IEC) – Spreading knowledge about nutrition and healthy practices.
Source: DD News
Previous Year Question
With reference to the provisions made under the National Food Security Act, 2013, consider the following statements:
1. The families coming under the category of ‘below poverty line (BPL)’ only are eligible to receive subsidised food grains.
2. The eldest woman in a household, of age 18 years or above, shall be the head of the household for the purpose of issuance of a ration card.
3. Pregnant women and lactating mothers are entitled to a ‘take-home ration’ of 1600 calories per day during pregnancy and for six months thereafter.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2018 Prelims]
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 3 only
Answer: (b)