According to the new guidelines of the ‘Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2’ policy, the Anganwadi Services Scheme is open to all eligible beneficiaries; the only requirement is that the beneficiary be registered at the nearest Anganwadi centre with Aadhaar identification.
However, the Women and Child Development Ministry clarified that a child’s Aadhaar card is not required to access benefits under the Anganwadi Services Scheme, which can be accessed using the mother’s Aadhaar card.
Scheme for Adolescent Girls
Under the ‘Scheme for Adolescent Girls’, beneficiaries will require Aadhaar numbers to avail benefits, the guidelines stated. The scheme for adolescent girls has been revised under ‘Poshan 2.0,’ and the targeted beneficiaries now include girls aged 14 to 18 in aspirational districts of states such as Assam and the northeastern states, rather than out-of-school girls aged 11-14 years previously.
‘Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2’ policy
The government released new guidelines for the ‘Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2’ policy on August 2, which aims to look at interventions to address malnutrition concerns. The guidelines also encourage Aadhaar seeding of scheme beneficiaries to ensure last-mile tracking of take-home rations and tracking of migration of pregnant women and lactating mothers.
AYUSH systems
According to the guidelines, AYUSH systems for wellness and nourishment must be integrated into Poshan 2.0. AYUSH will spread the ‘Yoga at Home, Yoga with Family’ campaigns, as well as AWCs and households, to encourage beneficiaries to practise yoga and stay healthy.
According to the guidelines, the Ministry of AYUSH will provide technical assistance for scheme implementation, recommend simple Ayurvedic interventions to improve digestive capacity, populate ‘Poshan Vatikas’ (nutrition gardens) with medicinal plants and saplings, etc., and recommend local recipes incorporating locally grown vegetables and food substances, red rice, and various millets. In addition, seven lakh
AYUSH registered practitioners will collaborate with states/UTs to maximise the benefits of Poshan Vatikas through the development of regional meal plans, among other things.
The guidelines also mention that growth measurement is essential for all children. “Efforts shall be made for 100 per cent measurement of the children. Any child who could not be measured in a particular month has to be compulsorily measured in the following month,” it said.
Jaggery should be used for sweetening
According to the guidelines, only jaggery should be used for sweetening and “white sugar should not be used in the meals” provided to the beneficiaries. “Use of jaggery, fortification with indigenous plants like moreng (sahjan/drumstick) and ingredients that provide higher energy intake in smaller volume of food to be promoted,” it said.
According to the guidelines, food items for ‘Take-Home Ration’ (not raw ration) and ‘Hot Cooked Meals’ (HCM) are state-specific and must include locally grown or available wholesome fruits and vegetables. To increase the energy content, food ingredients used in supplementary nutrition must include cereals, pulses, millets (coarse grains), nuts, and some fat. Millets should be provided at least once a week and appropriately integrated in THR and HCM in a palatable form, according to the study.
The guidelines also state that stakeholders such as poshan panchayats, mothers’ groups, and village health sanitation and nutrition committees will conduct social audits. “Direct feedback shall also be obtained from those who have availed Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0,” it said.
The evaluation of the scheme shall be conducted by a third party of repute to be nominated by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, it added.
