Context:

The Indian government has launched several initiatives to improve the health and nutrition of pregnant women and lactating mothers. Two such programs that have shown significant progress are Mission Poshan 2.0 and Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY). Minister of State for Women and Child Development, Smt. Savitri Thakur gave this information in response to a question in the Lok Sabha.

About Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY):

Launched in 2017, PMMVY is a maternity benefit scheme aimed at providing partial wage compensation to women for wage-loss during childbirth and childcare. The scheme has positively impacted over 4.05 crore women by providing financial assistance during pregnancy and postnatal care.

Under the scheme:

·         Eligible pregnant and lactating mothers receive a cash incentive of ₹5,000 in three installments.

·         It encourages early registration of pregnancy, antenatal check-ups, and institutional deliveries.

About Mission Poshan 2.0:

Mission Poshan 2.0, launched under the Ministry of Women and Child Development, aims to address the challenges of malnutrition in a holistic manner. It subsumes several earlier schemes such as Anganwadi Services, Poshan Abhiyaan, and the Scheme for Adolescent Girls into one consolidated framework.

As of July 2025:

·         72.22 lakh pregnant women are actively registered as beneficiaries on the Poshan Tracker.

·         Supplementary nutrition, including 600 calories and 18–20 grams of protein, is provided through Take-Home Ration (THR) for up to 300 days per year.

·         Services extend to children (6 months to 6 years), lactating mothers, and adolescent girls (14–18 years) in Aspirational Districts and North-Eastern states.

Other initiatives:

National Health Mission (NHM):

To enhance maternal outcomes, the National Health Mission (NHM) has implemented comprehensive schemes:

• SUMAN ensures dignified, zero-cost, quality maternal care for every woman.
• Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK) offers free delivery (including C-section), diagnostics, medicines, blood, and transport.
• PMSMA provides free antenatal check-ups on the 9th of every month.
• High-risk pregnancies are tracked with financial incentives for ASHA workers under extended PMSMA.
• Iron and Folic Acid (IFA) supplementation and deworming reduce anemia and birth complications.

Poshan Tracker

Launched in March 2021, the Poshan Tracker is a digital governance tool for monitoring Anganwadi services. It collects real-time data on nutrition, growth monitoring, THR delivery, and attendance.

Since July 2025, the Facial Recognition System (FRS) has been made mandatory for Take-Home Ration (THR) delivery.

Conclusion:
Mission Poshan 2.0, in convergence with PMMVY and NHM initiatives, reflects India’s commitment to improving maternal and child health. It strengthens grassroots service delivery, ensures nutritional security, and adopts technology for accountability—crucial pillars in India’s socio-economic development.