Rajasthan Government Tightens Digital Compliance for Anganwadi Nutrition Program
In a significant move to enhance digital monitoring and accountability, the Rajasthan government has issued a new directive making attendance recording on the Poshan Tracker platform mandatory for children to receive meals at anganwadi centers. The order, which aims to streamline the Purak Poshahar programme, was officially released on Tuesday by Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Director Vasudev Malawat.
Mandatory Digital Attendance for Meal Distribution
The core provision of the directive states that hot cooked meals and snacks will only be provided to children aged three to six years whose daily attendance is recorded on the Poshan Tracker. This digital compliance measure is designed to ensure accurate tracking of beneficiary participation and optimize resource allocation within the nutrition scheme.
"Daily attendance of children aged three to six years at anganwadi centres must be mandatorily recorded on the Poshan Tracker platform. Hot cooked meals and snacks are to be provided only to those children whose attendance has been recorded," the official order explicitly states.
Enhanced Registration and Distribution Protocols
Beyond attendance requirements, the directive introduces stricter protocols for beneficiary registration and ration distribution:
- Facial Recognition System (FRS) for New Beneficiaries: The registration process for new beneficiaries must include completion of the facial recognition system procedure directly through the Poshan Tracker mobile application.
- FRS-Based Ration Distribution: Both new and existing beneficiaries will receive take-home rations through the facial recognition system, which requires photo capture and electronic Know Your Customer (e-KYC) verification.
This comprehensive digital framework represents a substantial shift toward technological integration in Rajasthan's child nutrition initiatives, potentially improving transparency and reducing discrepancies in service delivery.
