Anganwadi services missing? File one RTI
Short version. Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) under Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) / Mission Saksham Anganwadi & Poshan 2.0 provide 6 services to children 0-6 + pregnant women + lactating mothers: supplementary nutrition, pre-school education, nutrition & health education, immunisation, health check-up, referral. If your AWC is not providing these, RTI to PIO of CDPO Block / District Programme Officer (ICDS) with ₹10 fee legally forces a written reply within 30 days under §7(1) RTI Act 2005.
Anganwadi nutrition / pre-school / immunisation services denied or irregular? File an RTI under §6(1) RTI Act 2005. Free template, ICDS Mission timelines.
A real story
Sunita's village AWC in rural Bihar hadn't given hot meals for 8 weeks. Children went hungry.
She filed RTI to CDPO Saharsa Block. 15 days later CDPO replied: AWW honorarium pending; SNP grain shipment delayed; corrective action taken. Hot meals resumed week later.
Statute
- ICDS Operational Guidelines (latest 2022 — Mission Saksham Anganwadi & Poshan 2.0). - National Food Security Act 2013 §4-5 — pregnant/lactating + 6mo-6yr children entitled to free food. - §6(1) + §7(1) + §7(5) RTI Act.
Copy-ready RTI
To, PIO, CDPO Block / DPO ICDS, [Address]
Subject: §6(1) RTI Act — Anganwadi services in [Village/Ward]
Beneficiary name: [Mother / Child]
Child name + DOB: [Name + DD-MM-YYYY]
AWC code : [from icds-wcd.nic.in]
Village/Ward : [Name]
Please provide:
1. List of services provided / not provided at this AWC for
last 6 months.
2. SNP (supplementary nutrition) grain delivery dates.
3. AWW + AWH names + honorarium payment status.
4. Pre-school education days conducted.
5. Immunisation schedule + ANM/ASHA visit log.
6. Reasons for any service interruption.
7. Beneficiary list for this AWC.
Citizen of India [+ BPL §7(5) waiver if applicable].
Fee: ₹10 IPO/DD [or BPL waiver].
[Name + signature + address + date]
Common scenarios
- SNP grain not received — supply chain RTI. - AWW absent — replacement procedure. - Immunisation skipped — ANM/MCH coordination. - Pre-school not happening — accountability log. - Beneficiary not added → §4 NFSA challenge.
Case law
- PUCL v. UoI (Right to Food, ongoing) — SC on AWC service obligations. - Anjali Bhardwaj v. UoI (2018) — §4(1)(b)(xii) suo motu beneficiary lists. - CIC ICDS v. MWCD (2017) — disclosure of state-wise service gaps.
FAQs
AWC closed regularly — escalation?
CDPO → DPO → State Department of Women & Child Development.
AWW/AWH honorarium delayed — workers' RTI?
Yes — separate RTI by AWW.
Cooked meal vs take-home ration?
Per state — ask local norms.
Conclusion
AWC = first line of child nutrition. RTI fixes service gaps in the village.
File the RTI.
Sources
- ICDS / Mission Saksham Anganwadi 2.0 Guidelines. - NFSA 2013 §4-5. - PUCL v. UoI (Right to Food, ongoing).
Last reviewed: 24 April 2026.
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