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The Human Resource Development Minister, Shri Arjun Singh has emphasized the need for proper planning and methodology for effective implementation of the child development programmes. He said this while inaugurating a two day “National Consultation of State WCD Ministers and Secretaries on ICDS Universalization with Quality,” here today. He further said that a charter of action should be finalized for all the stake holders. The HRD Minister said that “since we don’t have unlimited resources, we must devise methodology which gives us feedback that where we are going and where it needs correction.” Shri Singh said that in spite of our achievements we still have major challenges ahead of us, we have to perform much more and our concerned effectively show in the improved condition of the children of country.
He called upon States and other related agencies to work together to achieve the goals of child development programmes and to adequately address the interrelated needs of young children, adolescent girls and women and disadvantaged community groups.
Speaking on this occasion, Smt. Kanti Singh, Minister of State for Human Resource Development stressed for convergence of ICSD programmes with other services in the areas of health, education, nutrition, food security, sanitation etc. Such convergence should be there at all levels i.e. national, state, district and village level, she said.
Referring to the National Common Minimum Programme of the Government includes universalisation of ICDS, Smt. Kanti Singh informed the gathering that Government is in the process of sanctioning 467 projects and 1.88 lakh new Anganwadi centres. This would increase the reach of the scheme to uncovered areas..
Earlier, Smt. Kumud Bansal, Secretary, Elementary Education and Literacy, Ministry of HRD had highlighted the integration of Anganwadi centres and primary schools especially functioning in the rural areas.
Mr. Cecilio Adorna, representative UNICEF, India focused on achieving results for children, assuring their survival, development, protection and participation. Smt. Reva Nayyar, Secretary, WCD underlined the objectives of this two day meet and hoped that the conference would come out with a plan of action for future strategies. Shri P.K. Hota, Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, highlighted the need for convergence of services and assured support of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to the ICDS programme.
This conference is being organized by the Department of Women and Child Development, Ministry of HRD with the cooperation of UNICEF. The participants in the meeting were representatives from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Department of Elementary Education and Literacy Department of Rural Development and Department of Panchayat Raj along with representatives of UNICEF, World Food Programme, CARE India. The meeting would deliberate on ways and means of improving the quality of delivery of services, viz., supplementary nutrition, health check up, pre-school education, nutrition and heath education under ICDS programme.
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