Each centre serves around 400 to 800 people: nutrition and pre-school for children under six and pregnant women.
In Shahdol, 44% of children under five are stunted, behind 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.
83% of registered enterprises are in services while 17% are in manufacturing. Only 3% of employment is in small and medium enterprises. Only 59% of school-age children are enrolled in higher secondary school (classes 9–12).
In Shahdol, which ranks 30 of 55 in Madhya Pradesh for youth opportunity, the overall opportunity score is 43.1 out of 100. It trails the national picture on households in the poorest wealth group at 54.2%. On women who are anaemic at 56.2%, it sits close to the national mark.