Poshan Tracker

07 Nov 2023 Poshan Tracker

This article covers “Daily Current Affairs” and the topic details “ Poshan Tracker”. This topic has relevance in the Social Justice section of the UPSC CSE exam.

For Prelims:

About Poshan Tracker?

For Mains:

GS 2: Social Justice

Significance of Poshan Tracker?

Challenges?

Way Forward?

Why in the news?

The launch of the Poshan Tracker by the Indian government stands as the most extensive mobile phone-based nutrition monitoring system in the annals of global health.

Introduction:

• Poshan Tracker, the largest mobile phone-based nutrition monitoring system globally, is revolutionizing nutrition monitoring in India.
• Unlike previous global examples, Poshan Tracker demonstrates universal uptake among Anganwadi workers, reaching nearly 3 million users across India.
• Central to Poshan 2.0 guidelines, this app aims to ensure transparency and accountability in nutrition service delivery.

Unprecedented Data Monitoring:

• Poshan Tracker offers real-time monitoring of over 50% of children under five in India, covering their height and weight measurements.
• Nearly 94% of beneficiaries have been Aadhar-verified.
• The app captures national, state, and district-level data on Anganwadi infrastructure, ration distribution, and nutritional outcomes.

Significance of Poshan Tracker:

• Acts as a real-time feedback loop for frontline workers to identify and address malnutrition in its early stages.
• Key modules include beneficiary registration, growth monitoring, and migration tracking.
• The app targets beneficiaries facing acute malnutrition and tracks the effectiveness of ICDS services.

Challenges:

• Poshan Tracker’s effectiveness in improving data accuracy and timeliness remains a question.
• Decision-makers may not highly value older data.

Accuracy and Potential:

• A study from Indonesia shows a mobile app can significantly improve growth monitoring accuracy.
• Poshan Tracker uses WHO growth charts to automatically calculate nutritional outcomes, reducing manual errors.
• Granular data addresses malnutrition variability and provides timely information for decision-makers.

Way Forward:

• User-friendliness improvements and feedback from overburdened Anganwadi workers are crucial.
• Ongoing skill-building and technical assistance are needed for system sustainability.
• Poshan Tracker’s data must catalyze actionable outcomes in delivering essential services to address malnutrition.

Source: Mother, child and the Poshan Tracker | The Indian Express

Download Yojna daily current affairs eng med 7th November 2023

Q.1 Consider the following statements regarding Poshan Tracker:

1. Poshan Tracker is the largest mobile phone-based nutrition monitoring system globally.
2. The app captures real-time data on the height and weight measurements

Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

ANSWER: C

Q.2 Poshan Tracker, an innovative technology platform, has been introduced to monitor the progress of India’s National Nutrition Mission (POSHAN Abhiyaan). Discuss the significance of Poshan Tracker in addressing the issue of malnutrition in India. What are the key features and challenges associated with its implementation, and how can it contribute to achieving better nutritional outcomes?

rishabh