SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir received Rs 3,46,555.87 lakh, or around Rs 3,465.56 crore, in funds released under the Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 scheme between 2014-15 and 2024-25, according to data presented by the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development in the Lok Sabha on Friday.
The figures show that the annual release to JK increased from Rs 26,031.19 lakh in 2014-15 to Rs 66,279.24 lakh in 2024-25, marking an increase of more than 154 per cent over the period.
The highest annual release to JK during the period was recorded in 2024-25 at Rs 66,279.24 lakh, followed by Rs 53,088.35 lakh in 2023-24 and Rs 47,881.91 lakh in 2022-23.
The Union Government said the scheme is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, with implementation falling under the jurisdiction of State Governments and Union Territory administrations. The Ministry said infrastructure-related issues are regularly taken up with the States and UTs through sustained engagements and video conferences to ensure uninterrupted delivery of services to beneficiaries.
For the Himalayan States, including JK, the Centre-State funding ratio is 90:10 for general components, salary and supplementary nutrition programme (SNP) components under Anganwadi Services.
The Ministry said the year-wise and State/UT-wise number of Anganwadi Centres and projects under Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 is available on the Poshan Tracker public dashboard.
The Government, however, did not provide a separate year-wise break-up of funds allocated, released and utilised specifically under the erstwhile Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme from 2014 to 2024 in the parliamentary reply. It provided State and UT-wise figures of funds released under the current Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 framework for financial years 2014-15 to 2024-25.
The reply also did not provide separate details on whether JK had contributed funds above its mandated share since 2015. It stated that the scheme follows the prescribed cost-sharing pattern, with the Centre bearing 90 per cent and JK contributing 10 per cent for the applicable components.
Ladakh, which was listed separately in the Union Territory category, received Rs 2,299.04 lakh in 2020-21, Rs 1,467.47 lakh in 2021-22, Rs 42.83 lakh in 2022-23, Rs 288.11 lakh in 2023-24 and Rs 134.52 lakh in 2024-25, according to the annexure.
