21 September 2026 Punjab Khabarnama Bureau : The Punjab Government has sanctioned Rs 2.67 crore to revamp the ration and nutrition delivery system at Anganwadi centres across all 23 districts, shifting the focus towards locally prepared fresh meals.
The decision comes after prolonged concerns over ration shortages and food quality, including scrutiny related to supplies provided under the state’s Supplementary Nutrition Programme.
Fresh Meals to Replace Pre-Cooked Rations
Under the revised system, Anganwadi centres will move away from centralised pre-cooked, ready-to-eat or ready-to-cook food supplies.
Instead, meals will be prepared locally at Anganwadi centres using foodgrains distributed through the government system. The policy had already been outlined earlier this year after Markfed stepped away from supplying pre-cooked meals.
Foodgrains Based on Actual Attendance
A key change is that wheat and rice, including fortified rice, will be distributed every quarter based on the actual attendance of children recorded on the Poshan Tracker.
The system is intended to align foodgrain allocation more closely with the number of beneficiaries actually attending each centre and reduce shortages or wastage.
₹8 Daily Nutrition Cost Per Child
The existing cost norm has been retained at ₹8 per child per day.
The meals are designed to provide approximately 500 calories and 12–15 grams of protein, with the revised delivery model aimed at ensuring that nutritional requirements are met more reliably at the grassroots level.
Markfed Supply Crisis Triggered Policy Change
The overhaul follows a prolonged supply crisis after Markfed’s tender was suspended in April amid complaints regarding the quality of food supplied to Anganwadi centres.
The Department of Social Security, Women and Child Development had also raised concerns internally about the quality of food supplied through the system.
ED Examining Food-Quality Concerns
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is examining an internal communication sent in January by the Department of Social Security, Women and Child Development.
The communication reportedly raised concerns over Markfed sourcing food items, including panjiri prepared with refined soybean oil, from private contractors.
Some beneficiaries reportedly rejected the product because of concerns over its taste and texture, after which it was discontinued.
Scheme Covers Lakhs of Beneficiaries
Punjab’s Integrated Child Development Services network covers around 26,600 Anganwadi centres across the state.
The programme supports roughly 12 lakh beneficiaries, including pregnant women, lactating mothers and children aged six months to three years.
Focus on Reliable Nutrition Delivery
The decentralised model is intended to ensure that children receive freshly prepared meals at their local Anganwadi centres rather than depending on centrally supplied packaged food.
Officials hope the change will improve reliability while allowing foodgrain distribution to respond more closely to actual attendance.
Foodgrain Supply Being Prepared
According to the latest report, foodgrain quantities for the upcoming quarter have already been calculated and requested from the Food Corporation of India.
The move is expected to help Anganwadi centres transition to the revised system and restore regular meal supplies to beneficiaries.
A Shift in Punjab’s Anganwadi Nutrition Model
The new arrangement represents a significant change in how supplementary nutrition is delivered across Punjab.
By combining quarterly foodgrain allocation with Poshan Tracker attendance data and local cooking, the government is seeking to address both supply reliability and concerns over the quality of centrally prepared food.