Question : Integrated Child Development Services Scheme

(a) the details of Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme indicating the districts covered thereunder along with the funds allocated/released and utilised along with the number of beneficiaries under the said scheme during each of the last three years and the current year, State/UT and component-wise;
(b) the status of implementation of the scheme, particularly to improve child malnutrition in the country;
(c) whether the Government has taken note that implementation of the scheme is very poor/unsatisfactory in remote villages and if so, the reaction of the Government thereto;
(d) whether the Government proposes to formulate a special package for the backward States to enable them to introduce/implement the scheme effectively and if so, the details thereof;
(e) whether the Government/central teams have conducted visits in various States/UTs to oversee its implementation during the said period and if so, the details thereof; and
(f) the further measures taken by the Government to monitor the proper implementation and disseminate awareness about the scheme?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
(Dr. VIRENDRA KUMAR)
(a). Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme, now renamed as Anganwadi Services, was launched in 1975 with the objectives to improve the nutritional and health status of children in the age-group 0-6 years, to lay the foundation for proper psychological, physical and social development of the child, to reduce the incidence of mortality, morbidity, malnutrition and school dropout, to achieve effective co-ordination of policy and implementation amongst the various departments to promote child development; and to enhance the capability of the mother to look after the normal health and nutritional needs of the child through proper nutrition and health education.

Under the scheme six services namely Supplementary Nutrition, Health & Nutrition Education, Pre-school Education, Immunization, Referral Services and Health Check-up are provided at the Anganwadi Centres (AWCs). The beneficiaries of the scheme are children 0-6 years old and Pregnant Women & Lactating Mothers. It is Centrally Sponsored Scheme implemented by the States/UTs.

The scheme is universal covering all the districts of the country. Statements showing details of funds allocated/released and utilised and the number of beneficiaries under the scheme during each of the last three years and the current year, State/UT and component wise are enclosed as Annexures- I & II.

(b). There are total 14 lakh AWCs sanctioned across the country out of which 13.63 lakh AWCs are operational as on 01.06.2018. The level of child malnutrition has improved as per the data collected by NFHS-4 as compared to NFHS-3 status.

(c). The scheme is implemented by the States/UTs. The deficiencies as and when reported are taken care of.

(d). There is no such proposal under consideration. However, cost sharing ratio for implementation of the scheme for North-eastern and Himalayan States has been fixed at 90:10 as against 60:40 for other States/UTs (with legislature).

(e) & (f) Monitoring of the scheme is done through 5-tier monitoring committees at the National, State, District, Block and Anganwadi level. Besides, supervisory visits are made by the State/UT and senior officers of this Ministry. As and when any deficiency is found, it is brought to the notice of States/UTs for taking corrective measures.

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