The Ministry of Women and Child Development provided an update on Mission Poshan 2.0, the government's comprehensive program to combat malnutrition and promote child development through a converged approach building on previous initiatives. Multiple evaluations demonstrate the program's effectiveness: NITI Aayog's 2020 assessment found Poshan Abhiyaan satisfactorily relevant for tackling malnutrition, while their 2025 evaluation of Mission Poshan 2.0 across 12 states and one union territory confirmed the program's holistic approach.
A World Bank survey conducted in 2021 across 11 states with high stunting and anemia prevalence showed significant behavioral improvements, with nutrition messages reaching over 80% of women and 81% practicing exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months. The program has driven high uptake and utilization of Anganwadi services including supplementary nutrition, growth monitoring, and counseling.
A key technological innovation is the Poshan Tracker digital application, an ICT-based governance tool that enables monitoring and review of services provided to beneficiaries. The application includes a Facial Recognition System for Take-Home Ration distribution, ensuring benefits reach only registered intended beneficiaries through Aadhaar-based tracking, which has enabled proper identification, prevented leakages, and eliminated ghost entries. This information was presented by Minister of State for Women and Child Development Smt. Savitri Thakur in response to a Lok Sabha question.