The State/UT-wise number of beneficiaries (children 6 months - 6 years and pregnant & lactating mothers) under ICDS Programme, as on 30.9.2013, is as mentioned below.

 

 

 

The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme was universalized in 2008-09 preceded by rapid expansion in the years 2005-06, 2007-08 and 2008-09, so as to cover all habitations, including SC/ST and Minority, across the country with the approval of 7076 ICDS Projects and 14 lakh Anganwadi Centres.  Against 7076 sanctioned ICDS Projects and 13.75 lakh sanctioned Anganwadi Centres, there are 7066 operational ICDS Projects and 13.40 lakh operational Anganwdi Centres, throughout the country, as on 30.9.2013.

 

In order to address various programmatic, management and institutional gaps and to meet administrative and operational challenges that had crept the ICDS over the years, Government approved the proposal for Strengthening and Restructuring of ICDS Scheme with an over-all budget allocation of Rs. 1,23,580 crore  during 12th Five Year Plan.  The administrative approvals in this regard have since been issued to the States/UTs.

 

The Restructured and Strengthened ICDS is to roll out in all the districts in three years as per following details:

 

In 200 high burden districts in the first year (2012-13);

In additional 200 districts in second year (2013-14) (i.e. w.e.f. 1.4.2013) including districts from special category States and NER;

In remaining districts in third year (2014-15) (i.e. w.e.f. 1.4.2014).

 

The key features of the strengthened and restructured ICDS include addressing the gaps and challenges with

(a) special focus on children under 3 years and pregnant and lactating mothers  

(b) strengthening and repackaging of services including , care and nutrition counseling services and care of severely underweight children

(c) a provision for an additional Anganwadi Worker cum Nutrition Counselor for focus on children under 3 years of age and to improve the family contact, care and nutrition counseling for P&L Mothers in the selected 200 high-burden districts across the country, besides having provision of link worker, 5% crèche cum Anganwadi centre

(d) focus on Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE)

(e) forging strong institutional and programmatic convergence particularly, at the district, block and village levels

(f) models providing flexibility at local levels for community participation

(g) introduction of APIP

(h) improving Supplementary Nutrition Programme including cost revision,

(i)  provision for construction and improvement of buildings of Anganwadi centres

(j) allocating adequate financial resources for other components including Monitoring and Management and Information System(MIS), Training and use of Information and communication technology (ICT),

(k) to  put ICDS in a mission mode etc. and

(l) revision of financial norms etc.

 

The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme is a centrally sponsored Scheme implemented by States/UTs across the country.  The responsibility for providing supplementary nutrition and management thereon rests with States/UTs.  The complaints received in respect of deficiency in providing SNP under ICDS Scheme are forwarded to concerned States/UTs for taking appropriate action. Complaints which are serious in nature, report from State Governments/UT Administrations is sought.  The complaints regarding SNP and unhygienic conditions received from the States during each of the last three years and current year are as given below.

 

 

The complaints of such irregularities are forwarded to the concerned State Governments for remedial action.  During review meetings, the States/UTs are also requested for improving all services under ICDS Scheme including Supplementary Nutrition Programme.  The Government of India has also introduced five tier monitoring and supervision mechanism at National, State, District, Block and Anganwadi level and issued guidelines on 31.3.2011 for better implementation of the ICDS Scheme including SNP. 

 

Whenever any shortcomings are noticed during the course of visits to the States, they are addressed through letters and review meetings to remove the deficiencies and to improve the implementation of the Scheme. 

 

This was stated by Smt. Krishna Tirath, Minister for Women and Child Development, in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

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MV