Each centre serves around 400 to 800 people: nutrition and pre-school for children under six and pregnant women.
In Varanasi, 37.4% 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.
60% of registered enterprises are in services while 40% are in manufacturing. Only 5% of employment is in small and medium enterprises. 81% of school-age children are enrolled in higher secondary school (classes 9–12).
In Varanasi, which ranks 8 of 75 in Uttar Pradesh for youth opportunity, the overall opportunity score is 49.1 out of 100. It runs ahead of the national picture on women who are anaemic at 37.3% and households in the poorest wealth group at 13.9%.