New Delhi, NFAPost: The state government of Bihar sourced 121174 smartphones as part of the Central Government-funded POSHAN Abhiyaan to empower Anganwadi workers during fiscal 2021.
Anganwadi workers are empowered with the provision of smartphones procured through the Government e-Market (GeM) for efficient service delivery. The total number of smartphones sources by 36 states are calculated at 865577.
Ministry for Women and Child Development has been pursuing with States to saturate access to smartphones for Anganwadi Workers. The recent review meetings organised Minister for Women and Child Development Smriti Zubin Irani found that a total of 8.66 lakh smart phones have been procured by 32 States/UTs.
In addition, States/UTs are advised to introduce transparent processes for procurement of mobile phones as per GFR and vigilance guidelines. The Ministry spend a total amount of Rs 26,962.38 lakh and total amount spent is Rs 2,98,555.92 lakh during the fiscal.
The mobile application of POSHAN Abhiyaan digitises and automates physical registers used by Aanganwadi workers. This saves the time of AWWs and AWHs, and improves the quality of their work while simultaneously allowing them real-time monitoring.
Under POSHAN Abhiyaan, funds released to States/UTs for programme implementation, including procurement of smartphones for FY 2019-20 and 2020-21 along with total central fund utilisation as on 31st March 2021 is at Annexure II.
This information was given by the Union Minister for Women and Child Development Smriti Zubin Irani, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.
