Gandhinagar: In a significant push to strengthen child and maternal health services, the Gujarat Women and Child Development (WCD) Department has added 6.45 lakh new beneficiaries to the Poshan Tracker in just two months between November 19, 2025, and January 19, 2026. The initiative is part of the state’s ongoing efforts to include all eligible individuals under the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS).
Poshan Tracker: A 360-Degree Digital Platform
The Poshan Tracker, a mobile-based digital platform launched by the Union WCD Ministry, provides a comprehensive view of anganwadi operations and beneficiary services. Its key functions include:
- Tracking supplementary nutrition for children, pregnant women, and lactating mothers
- Monitoring child growth and development
- Conducting regular health check-ups and home visits
- Ensuring timely delivery of maternal and child welfare services
By leveraging the Poshan Tracker, the state aims to improve maternal and child health outcomes, including better performance on the infant mortality rate and maternal health index.
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Intensive Beneficiary Inclusion Drive
According to WCD sources, the state launched an intensive enrolment drive across all districts, with specific targets assigned to ensure maximum coverage. Key achievements include:
- 1,36,655 pregnant women and lactating mothers added
- 5,08,492 children aged 6 years or below added
- Total 6,45,147 new beneficiaries enrolled in two months
- Approximately 6 lakh more beneficiaries remain to be added to cover all eligible individuals
Officials noted that most districts plan to complete enrolment by the end of January, while a few districts project completion by February or March 2026.
Expanding Reach Across Gujarat
The ICDS network in Gujarat includes:
- Over 53,000 anganwadi centres
- Serving nearly 47 lakh beneficiaries, roughly 7% of the state’s population
Regular reviews identified gaps in enrolment, prompting the special drive launched on November 19, 2025, under the guidance of the Chief Secretary (CS). District officials were instructed to:
- Conduct special enrolment drives
- Enrol newly eligible beneficiaries
- Submit gap reports and action taken reports to monitor progress
Focus on Maternal and Child Health
The WCD department highlighted that the enrolment drive will have a direct impact on key health indicators, including:
- Reduction in infant mortality rate
- Improved maternal health outcomes
- Enhanced tracking and delivery of nutritional and health services
By integrating new beneficiaries into the Poshan Tracker, Gujarat aims to ensure equitable access to ICDS services and strengthen the state’s health infrastructure for mothers and children.
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