In order to address various programmatic, management and institutional gaps and to meet administrative and operational challenges, the Government of India approved the proposal for Strengthening and Restructuring of Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme in September 2012 with an over-all budget allocation of Rs. 1,23,580 crore  during 12^th Five Year Plan.  The administrative approvals in this regard have been issued to the States/UTs.

Roll out of Restructured and Strengthened ICDS is to take place as per the following schedule:

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

    II.            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;

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

The key features of Strengthened and Restructured ICDS inter-alia include addressing the gaps and challenges with:

(a)        Special focus on children under 3 years and pregnant and lactating mothers (P&L)

(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.

As regards Jharkhand, it has been rolled out in 6 districts namely Chatra, Dhanbad, Dumka, Giridih, Koderma and West Singhbhum in the first year (2012-13) and in another 6 districts namely Bokaro, Hazaribag, Gumla, Purbi Singhbhum, Palamu and Pakaur in second year (2013-14) (i.e. w.e.f. 1.4.2013). The restructured ICDS will be rolled out in remaining districts of the country, including the State of Jharkhand, w.e.f. 1.4.2014.

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

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MV