Question : Implementation of ICDS

(a) whether the Government has taken note that due to poor implementation of the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme, child malnutrition cases have increased manifold across the country;

(b) if so, the facts thereof;

(c) whether the Union Government/Central teams have conducted visits in various States to oversee the implementation of the ICDS in the past few years;

(d) if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the further measures taken by the Government to monitor the implementation and disseminate awareness about the scheme?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
(DR. VIRENDRA KUMAR)

(a) & (b) As per the recent report of National Family Health Survey (NFHS) – 4 conducted by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in 2015-16, 35.7% children under 5 years of age are underweight and 38.4% are stunted indicating a reduction from the previous NFHS – 3 conducted in 2005-06, which reported 42.5% children under 5 years of age as underweight and 48% stunted. Further, 22.9% women (15-49 years of age) have chronic energy deficiency (BMI less than 18.5%) which is a decline from the previous NFHS-3 levels which reported 35.5% women having chronic energy deficiency. Thus the level of malnutrition in the country has decreased.

(c) &(d) From time to time, Senior officers from this Ministry have been deputed to visit States/UTs to review the implementation of ICDS Scheme and other Schemes of this Ministry.

(e) Under the Anganwadi Services Scheme, 5-tier monitoring & review mechanism is already in place at National, State, District, Block and Anganwadi Levels. Recently, the Government of India has approved setting up of National Nutrition Mission which has a number of new components contributing to the improved services under the Anganwadi Services i.e., monitoring the scheme through Common Application Software, introducing incentive for better performing States, etc. Further, Rapid Reporting System has been introduced for digital and fast movement of ICDS data.
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