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The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) today approved the following:
i) Extending of the ICDS Scheme to cover 467 additional Projects and 1,88,168 additional Anganwadi Centres.
ii) Extension of Kishori Shakti Yojana (KSY), currently sanctioned in 2000 Projects, to all 6119 ICDS Projects.
iii) Provision in the ICDS Scheme, for construction of Anganwadi Centres in North Eastern States out of funds earmarked for the NE region.
iv) Enhancement of rent for Anganwadi Centres from Rs.50/- p.m. to Rs.100/- p.m. in rural/tribal Projects and from Rs.300/- p.m. to Rs.500/- p.m. in urban Projects.
The approval would help in covering the uncovered populations/areas with the following objectives:
i) improve the nutritional and health status of children in the age-group 0-6 years;
ii) lay the foundation for proper psychological, physical an social development of the child;
iii) achieve effective co-ordination of policy and implementation amongst the various departments to promote child development; and
iv) reduce the incidence of mortality, morbidity, malnutrition and school dropout; and
v) enhance the capability of the mother to look after the normal health and nutritional needs of the child through proper nutrition and health education.
With the expansion of the Scheme to cover 467 additional Projects and 1,88,168 AWCs, about 1.05 crore additional children will get the benefit of services under the Scheme.
BACKGROUND:
The ICDS Scheme which was launched in 1975-76 aims at holistic development of children (0-6 years) and pregnant & lactating mothers from disadvantaged sections. It provides integrated services, pre-school non-formal education and health & nutrition education.
It is an ongoing Centrally-sponsored scheme implemented through the State Governments with 100% financial assistance from the Central Government for inputs other than supplementary nutrition for which the States have to provide funds from their Plan outlays.
The National Common Minimum Programme (NCMP) of the government envisages that attempts will be made to universalize the ICDS Scheme to provide a functional Anganwadi in every settlement and ensure full coverage of all children. With the growth of population over the years, there is also need for more Anganwadi Centres within the existing urban Projects in order to cover the unreached population, as per norms of the Scheme.
Accordingly, to fulfil Government’s commitment contained in the NCMP, the Scheme is proposed to be expanded, in the first phase, to cover 467 additional Projects and 1,88,168 additional Anganwadi centers, as per the requirement indicated by the States.
YSR/DS/HS/CS
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