BIKANER, Sept. 10 -- Over 12,600 operational Anganwadi Centres in Rajasthan lack drinking-water facilities and nearly 29,100 do not have toilets, according to data submitted by the state government before the Rajasthan high court. While a six-month analysis of Poshan Tracker data by the Union women and child development ministry found that 210 Anganwadi Centres recorded zero days of opening, while an average of 137 centres reflected zero beneficiaries during the period. The data, placed before the high court bench at Jodhpur, covers 61,625 operational Anganwadi Centres. Of these, 48,949 (79.43%) had drinking-water facilities, leaving 12,676 without them (20.56%). Whereas only 32,527 (52.78%) had toilets, meaning 29,098 (47.21%) operational centres did not have toilet facilities. Another 10,553 centres were functioning from rented buildings. The figures formed part of the infrastructure details submitted by the state in proceedings concerning the functioning of Anganwadi Centres. The Union ministry's findings relate to a slightly different network. Rajasthan has a central ceiling of 62,010 Anganwadi Centres under Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, with another 186 sanctioned under PM JANMAN and DA-JGUA, taking the centrally sanctioned network monitored through Poshan Tracker to 62,196. The ministry analysed data for these centres for the preceding six months and reported 210 centres with zero days of opening and an average of 137 centres showing zero beneficiaries. It also found 1,139 vacant Anganwadi Worker posts and 6,455 vacant Anganwadi Helper posts. The Poshan Tracker records the opening of Anganwadi Centres as part of its monitoring indicators. The Union ministry has said the application is used for near-real-time monitoring of services, including opening of centres, daily attendance, early childhood education activities, growth monitoring and nutrition services. Rajasthan's Economic Review also says Poshan Tracker has been implemented across all districts for real-time monitoring of services delivered at Anganwadi Centres. The available government record, however, does not identify the 210 centres by name or district, nor does it establish that each of them remained physically closed continuously for all six months. The ministry's wording is that the centres recorded zero days of opening in the analysed Poshan Tracker data. Likewise, the figure of 137 is described as an average of centres reflecting zero beneficiaries, and cannot be read as a finding that 137 permanently had no beneficiaries throughout the six-month period. The ministry, in the same communication, asked Rajasthan to undertake a systematic assessment of centres with minimal or no beneficiary presence, those not operational for extended periods and those functioning without designated Anganwadi Workers or Helpers. It also called for prioritising vacancies, revival of non-operational centres and, where practical, relocation or co-location with nearby government primary schools. Rajasthan's ICDS Directorate says 63,206 Anganwadi Centres are operating under 363 projects in the state. The Economic Review for 2025-26 records 63,064 centres as functional up to December 2025. It also records 61,706 Anganwadi Workers and 55,441 Helpers working in the state. The review says Poshan Tracker has been implemented in all districts for monitoring service delivery. The state network is intended to deliver a broad package of services rather than nutrition alone, including supplementary nutrition for children aged six months to six years and pregnant and lactating women, pre-school education for children aged three to six, nutrition and health education, immunisation, health check-ups and referral services. Up to December 2025, the Economic Review recorded 2.76 million children, 289,000 pregnant women and 284,000 lactating women receiving supplementary nutrition, while 1.17 million children aged three to six were covered under pre-school education. The state has also reported efforts to strengthen the network: the Economic Review records completion of construction or renovation-related work at 6,874 Anganwadi Centres under the Nand Ghar initiative up to December 2025, while 42,554 centres had been integrated with government schools, including 22,746 physically located on school premises and another 19,808 functionally integrated within 700 metres. The issue came before the Rajasthan high court after complaints concerning Anganwadi Centres in Pratapgarh, including centres in tribal and core tribal areas. In its August 21 order, the court directed District Legal Services Authorities to report on Anganwadi Centres within their respective jurisdictions, including their buildings, beneficiaries, staff, toilets, drinking water and delivery of ICDS services. The court also sought a detailed statistical report from the state covering the condition of centres, staff position, vacancies, functionality and infrastructure. The next hearing is scheduled for September 14, when the court is expected to consider the reports and the state's response....