Gujarat's Intensive Drive Adds 6.45 Lakh New Beneficiaries to Poshan Tracker
In a significant push to expand the reach of welfare schemes, the Women and Child Development Department (WCD) of Gujarat has successfully launched an intensive enrollment drive. This initiative has resulted in the addition of a remarkable 6.45 lakh new beneficiaries to the Poshan Tracker digital platform within a concentrated two-month period from November 19, 2025, to January 19, 2026.
Digital Platform Enhances Anganwadi Operations
The Poshan Tracker, a mobile-based digital platform introduced by the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development, serves as a comprehensive tool for monitoring anganwadi operations. It provides a 360-degree view of services delivered to beneficiaries, which include:
- Supplementary nutrition programs
- Growth monitoring for children
- Regular health check-ups
- Systematic home visits by anganwadi workers
This platform is designed to improve the efficiency and transparency of service delivery under the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS), ensuring that intended beneficiaries receive timely support.
District-Level Targets Drive Enrollment Success
According to sources within the state WCD department, the success of this drive was underpinned by a structured approach. Each district in Gujarat was assigned specific enrollment targets, contributing to the addition of approximately 6.5 lakh new beneficiaries in just two months.
Officials noted that most districts, through their gap reports and action taken reports, committed to covering all eligible beneficiaries by the end of January 2026. A few districts projected completion by February or March, indicating ongoing efforts to maximize enrollment.
Breakdown of New Beneficiary Additions
The enrollment drive yielded detailed results, highlighting specific beneficiary groups:
- 1,36,655 pregnant women and lactating mothers were added to the Aadhaar-verified Poshan Tracker.
- 5,08,492 children aged six years or less were enrolled during the same period.
This brings the total new beneficiaries to 6,45,147, effectively bringing previously uncovered individuals under the ICDS net. Sources indicate that around six lakh more beneficiaries remain to be added, with the intensive drive expected to continue.
Impact on Health Indices and Future Projections
The expansion of beneficiary coverage is anticipated to have a positive impact on key health metrics. A source within the department emphasized that this drive will likely improve Gujarat's performance on the infant mortality rate index and the maternal health index. With more beneficiaries receiving essential services, the state aims to enhance overall health outcomes for vulnerable populations.
ICDS Infrastructure and Statewide Reach
Gujarat's ICDS framework is supported by a robust network of over 53,000 anganwadi centres across the state. These centres currently serve approximately 47 lakh beneficiaries, which constitutes nearly 7% of Gujarat's total population. Regular reviews of this network identified opportunities to increase beneficiary enrollment on the Poshan Tracker, prompting the launch of the special drive.
Ongoing Efforts and Administrative Guidance
Under the guidance of the Chief Secretary, a series of review meetings were conducted to strategize and monitor the enrollment drive. Districts were instructed to initiate the special enrollment campaign starting November 19, 2025, which remains ongoing. Officials directed districts to enroll all newly eligible beneficiaries and submit detailed gap reports along with action taken reports to ensure accountability and continuous improvement.
This concerted effort underscores the state's commitment to leveraging digital tools like Poshan Tracker to strengthen social welfare programs and ensure that no eligible beneficiary is left behind.
