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Picture Courtesy:  THE HINDU

Context: 

Anganwadi workers, providing nutrition and health services, are facing technical difficulties to register beneficiaries (pregnant women, new mothers, and children) on the Poshan Tracker app. 

What is the Poshan Abhiyaan?

The Ministry of Women and Child Development launched the Poshan (Prime Minister's Overarching Scheme for Holistic Nourishment) Abhiyaan in 2018.

It aims to improve the nutrition levels for young children (0-6 years old), adolescent girls, pregnant women, and mothers who are breastfeeding.  

Poshan Abhiyaan focuses on reducing:

• Stunting => When children are too short for their age. Target to reduce by 2% per annum.  
• Under-nutrition (Underweight) => When children are too thin for their age. Target to reduce by 2% per annum.
• Anemia => A condition where people lack enough healthy red blood cells, common among young children, women, and adolescent girls. Target to reduce by 3% per annum.
• Low Birth Weight => Target to reduce by 2% per annum.

Strategic Pillars of Poshan Abhiyaan

Access to Quality Services => Providing essential health services through schemes like Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) , National Health Mission (NHM), and Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), especially during the first 1,000 days of a child’s life.

Cross-Sectoral Convergence =>  Coordinating efforts across multiple ministries, including water and sanitation under the Swachh Bharat Mission and drinking water access through the National Drinking Water Mission.

Jan Andolan => Community engagement is key to driving mass awareness and encouraging behavioral change around nutrition.

Leveraging Technology => Tools like the Poshan Tracker application allow real-time data collection and intervention.

Why is the Poshan Tracker App Causing Problems?

Mandatory Facial Recognition and Aadhaar e-KYC => Since July 1, 2025, the government requires beneficiaries to register on the app using facial recognition and Aadhaar e-KYC to prove their identity. Children must also register using their parents' or guardians' Aadhaar details. 

Aadhaar Mismatches => The app does not accept beneficiary names that are misspelled on their Aadhaar cards.

Poor Internet Connectivity => In many rural areas, weak or unreliable internet connections make it difficult for the app to function properly.

Lack of Digital Skills and Training => Some anganwadi workers do not know how to use smartphones or the app and depend on others for help. They have not received specific training for using these digital tools.

What is Mission POSHAN 2.0?

The government merged several existing nutrition programs, including the Supplementary Nutrition Programme and the original Poshan Abhiyaan, into Mission POSHAN 2.0. It was announced in the Union Budget 2021-22.

Its goals include developing human capital, tackling malnutrition, promoting nutrition awareness, and infrastructure upgrades for Anganwadi Centre (AWCs).

Both Poshan Abhiyaan and Mission POSHAN 2.0 receive their funding from the central government, with contribution from State governments, and also receive International support from UNICEF and the World Bank.

 What steps are required to strengthen the Poshan Abhiyaan?

Integrated Services => Combining health, nutrition, education, and sanitation services. Provide digital skill to ground workers. 

Community-Led Initiatives => Empowering local communities, and frontline workers to drive change. Awareness campaign with local leaders and Celebrities.

Technology for Monitoring => Utilizing digital platforms for real-time data collection and program oversight.

Public-Private Partnerships => Engaging various stakeholders to support nutrition initiatives.

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Source: THE HINDU