(). The scheme was gradually , in phases, and finally in 2008-09 with approved 7076 projects and 14 . The of the scheme led to increased outreach which necessitated operational, programmatic and other reforms.
and institutional reforms as well as to meet administrative and operational challenges, the Ministry of Women and Child Development has formulated a comprehensive proposal on ICDS Strengthening and Restructuring which inter- include addressing the gaps and challenges with
focus on children under 3 years and pregnant and lactating mothers
and repackaging of service including, care and nutrition counseling services and care of severely underweight children
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 pilots on link worker, 5% crèche cum centre
on Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE)
strong institutional and programmatic convergence particularly, at the district, block and village levels (f) models providing flexibility at local levels for community participation
Supplementary Nutrition including cost indexation,
)provision for the construction and improvement of
) allocating adequate financial resources for other components including Monitoring and Management and Information System (MIS), Training and use of Information and communication technology (ICT),and
put ICDS in a mission mode etc.
implemented through the State Governments/UT Administrations. The Scheme, since inception, envisages involvement of voluntary organizations, Central Social Welfare Boards, Local bodies, Raj Institutions etc. wherever they are functional, to be actively involved in this for implementation, soliciting community support etc. The States have been given the autonomy, within the overall framework of the ICDS, to entrust whole or part of the ICDS projects to a voluntary organization including NGOs for which grants to them would be provided by the concerned State Government/UT Administration. The responsibility for deciding eligibility criterion, job responsibilities, wages etc. of NGO appointees, therefore, rests with the State Governments/UT Administrations.
. Krishna , in a written reply to a question in the today.