The Ministry of Women and Child Development on October 06, 2022, issued the Integrated Nutrition Support Programme – Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan (2.0), Rules, 2022 to provide nutritional standards to pregnant women and lactating mothers under the provisions of the National Food Security Act, 2013.
These rules will be applicable to every pregnant woman and lactating mother till six months after childbirth and every child in the age group of six months to six years (including those suffering from malnutrition) for three hundred days in a year, as per the nutritional standards specified in Schedule II to the National Food Security Act, 2013.
The following have been stated:
• Procurement and Quality of Nutrition
o The State or Union Territory must introduce a transparent process for procurement as per General Financial Rules, 2017 and Vigilance Guidelines and other norms issued from time to time by the Government of India and ensure that Take-Home Ration procured conforms to nutritional norms set by the Government of India.
o Take-Home Ration shall be tested from Food Safety and Standards Authority of India owned or registered or empanelled and National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories accredited laboratory and random testing must be conducted by Anganwadi Services functionaries after receipt of stock at the Anganwadi Centre or at the Block level.
o The States or Union Territories shall mandatorily and regularly input data into the Poshan Tracker Information and Communication Technology application.
[Notification No. G.S.R. 766(E)]
