By Anjani Kumar, Contributing Journalist, Mystartuptv
Poshan Tracker, an AI-driven app, wins the 2024 PM’s Award, revolutionizing nutrition monitoring for 10 crore women and children across India.
On April 21, 2025, in New Delhi, the Poshan Tracker Application, developed by the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD), received the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration 2024 under the Innovation (Centre) category during the 17th Civil Services Day. The app monitors nutrition for 10 crore beneficiaries, addressing malnutrition through real-time data and community engagement.
Poshan Tracker’s Role in Nutrition Monitoring
Launched on March 1, 2021, through the National e-Governance Division (NeGD), Poshan Tracker is a mobile application that tracks the nutritional status of children (0–6 years), pregnant women, and lactating mothers. As of February 2023, it registered 9.99 crore beneficiaries, including 53.57 lakh pregnant women, 52.81 lakh lactating mothers, and 8.83 crore children. Over 90% of beneficiaries are Aadhaar-verified, ensuring transparency. The app facilitates migration of beneficiaries across Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) and integrates with the Ministry of Health’s RCH portal for seamless data sharing.
The platform supports 13.97 lakh AWCs, with 11 lakh smartphones and 12.53 lakh growth monitoring devices (infantometers, stadiometers, weighing scales) deployed. It features a grievance redressal cell and a national Poshan Helpline, enhancing service delivery. In 2024, Poshan Tracker’s beneficiary module empowered citizens by enabling direct feedback, with 85% of grievances resolved within 48 hours.
Mission Poshan 2.0 and Saksham Anganwadi
Poshan Tracker is a cornerstone of Mission Poshan 2.0, launched under Saksham Anganwadi to combat malnutrition. Covering 730 districts, including 112 Aspirational Districts, the mission targets children, adolescent girls, pregnant women, and lactating mothers through schemes like Poshan Abhiyaan and Anganwadi Services. Beneficiaries receive hot-cooked meals and Take Home Ration (not raw ration), with fortified rice allocated to all states since Q3 FY2021-22 to address micronutrient deficiencies. Millets, rich in iron and calcium, are mandated weekly in meals.
The National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5, 2019–21) shows progress: stunting dropped from 38.4% to 35.5%, wasting from 21% to 19.3%, and underweight children from 35.7% to 32.1% compared to NFHS-4 (2015–16). Mission Poshan 2.0’s focus on diet diversity promotes micronutrient-rich foods like leafy greens and lentils, reducing anemia by 5% in targeted districts.
Community Engagement Through Jan Andolan
Poshan Abhiyaan’s social and behavioral change communication (SBCC) drives a nationwide Jan Andolan, with 60 crore activities conducted since 2018. Rashtriya Poshan Maah (September) and Poshan Pakhwada (March) engage communities on breastfeeding, maternal nutrition, and complementary feeding. In 2022, Poshan Maah’s 17 crore activities emphasized women’s health, with 80% focusing on anemia prevention and breastfeeding. Over 3.7 crore Community-Based Events (CBEs) at AWCs have promoted practices like Godhbharai (maternal nutrition) and Annaprasan (complementary feeding).
Breakout Session Highlights
A breakout session on April 21, 2025, titled “Promoting Nutrition for Women and Children through Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0,” chaired by Union Minister Smt. Annpurna Devi, drew 500 participants via webcast. Anil Malik, MWCD Secretary, outlined milestones, while Dr. Bharati Kulkarni, Director of the National Institute of Nutrition, emphasized evidence-based interventions. State officials Leena Johri (Uttar Pradesh) and Rashmi Arun Shami (Madhya Pradesh) shared innovations, such as Uttar Pradesh’s millet-based nutrition programs. Smt. Annpurna Devi stressed inter-departmental convergence and tech-driven solutions like Poshan Tracker, noting, “Community participation is key to a healthier India”.
Recognition and Impact
The award, received by MWCD Secretary Anil Malik, recognizes Poshan Tracker’s role in transparent nutrition delivery. Best practices, like Telangana’s Mission Sampurna Poshan and Assam’s Project Sampoorna, were awarded in 2022 for reducing severe acute malnutrition (SAM). Over 4 lakh Poshan Vatikas (nutrition gardens) and 1.1 lakh medicinal saplings support sustainable nutrition. With 10 lakh frontline workers trained, Poshan 2.0 is transforming India’s nutrition landscape.
References
[1] Ministry of Women and Child Development, “Poshan Tracker Award Announcement,” April 21, 2025.
[2] MWCD, “Poshan Tracker Beneficiary Data,” February 2023.
[3] National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), 2019–21, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
[4] MWCD, “Mission Poshan 2.0 Progress Report,” 2024.
[5] PIB, “17th Civil Services Day Highlights,” April 21, 2025.
[6] MWCD, “Jan Andolan Activities Report,” 2023.
[7] X Post, “Poshan Tracker Wins PM Award,” April 21, 2025.
