In News:

The Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD) is spearheading a dual approach to address malnutrition and childcare challenges in India through two flagship initiatives—Poshan Pakhwada 2025 and the Palna Scheme under Mission Shakti.

Poshan Pakhwada 2025

• 7th edition observed from April 8–22, 2025, under Poshan Abhiyaan.
• Focuses on four key themes:
  • Nutrition in the first 1,000 days (conception to age two).
  • Promotion of the Poshan Tracker digital platform.
  • Community-based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM).
  • Encouraging a healthy lifestyle to reduce childhood obesity.
• Poshan Tracker App (AI-enabled; launched in 2021):
  • Registers all Anganwadi Centres (AWCs).
  • Enables real-time monitoring of beneficiaries, meal distribution, and health data.
  • Allows family self-registration via web.
• CMAM protocol (introduced in 2023): Empowers Anganwadi workers to detect and manage malnutrition at the grassroots.
• Special focus on tribal and remote areas, promoting awareness on breastfeeding, balanced diets, and early stimulation.
• Campaign supported by 18 partner ministries, with outreach via village camps, home visits, and awareness drives.

Palna Scheme under Mission Shakti

• Centrally sponsored scheme launched in 2022, succeeding the National Crèche Scheme.
• Operates under the Samarthya sub-scheme of Mission Shakti.
• Aims to provide quality crèche services for children aged 6 months to 6 years, especially for working mothers.

Key Features:

• Implemented by: Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD).
• Funding Ratio:
  • 60:40 (Centre: State),
  • 90:10 for NE and special category states.
• Two crèche models:

• Standalone Crèches near homes/workplaces.
• Anganwadi-cum-Crèches (AWCCs) integrated within Anganwadi Centres.

• Facilities Provided:
  • Nutritional meals, growth monitoring, immunization.
  • Early stimulation and pre-school education.
  • Support for continued breastfeeding.
• Crèche Capacity: Each unit supports up to 25 children.
• As of March 2025:
  • 11,395 AWCCs approved across 34 States/UTs; 1,761 operational, catering to ~28,783 children.
  • 1,284 Standalone Crèches operational with ~23,368 children enrolled.
  • 17,000 new AWCCs planned for 2024–25.
• Legal Backing: Mandated in workplaces with 50+ employees under the Maternity Benefit Act (amended).

Significance for India

Together, Poshan Pakhwada and Palna contribute to achieving SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) by ensuring a lifecycle approach to nutrition and holistic early childhood care. They reflect the government's commitment to digital governance, gender empowerment, and inclusive development.