Each centre serves around 400 to 800 people: nutrition and pre-school for children under six and pregnant women.
In Ashoknagar, 32.6% of children under five are stunted, close to the typical Indian district. The Anganwadi centre is the frontline for changing that: supplementary nutrition, growth monitoring, and pre-school for children up to six.
71% of registered enterprises are in services while 29% are in manufacturing. Only 3% of employment is in small and medium enterprises. Only 53% of school-age children are enrolled in higher secondary school (classes 9–12).
In Ashoknagar, which ranks 50 of 55 in Madhya Pradesh for youth opportunity, the overall opportunity score is 40.6 out of 100. The district runs ahead of the national picture on women who are anaemic at 46.6%, while it lags on households in the poorest wealth group at 43.4%.