NEW DELHI: As many as 22 states and five Union Territories have failed to procure smartphones and tablets for real-time data gathering and monitoring the development of every child in the age group of 0-6 years at anganwadis. Linked to a common software, these devices are critical to develop a pan-India monitoring mechanism which have managed to take off in six states and two UTs.

A total of two lakh phones and tablets have been procured by Andhra Pradesh , Rajasthan , Jharkhand, Bihar , Chhattisgarh , MP, UP, Puducherry , Dadra and Nagar Haveli . The data was shared in reply to a question in Rajya Sabha by minister of state for women and child development Virendra Kumar.

For pan-India coverage of anganwadis under the ‘Poshan Abhiyaan’ (National Nutrition Mission), over 11 lakh phones and tablets are required to be procured by states. The mission has been allocated Rs 9,046 crore for three years. The ministry of women and child development has written to states to step up procurement. It is learnt from sources that government is hoping that by September, seven lakh smartphones will be procured and linked to Integrated Child Development Programme. By December, the Centre plans to link all 14 lakh anganwadis.

