(a) whether the Government has any proposal to provide ready to eat meals to children under the supplementary
nutrition programme of the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme;
(b) if so, the details of expenditure involved therein and the steps taken/being taken by the State Governments as
well as the Union Government in this regard;
(c) whether the Government proposes to have a pilot project to assess the efficacy of the hot cooked food; and
(d) if so, the details thereof;
MINISTER OF STATE OF THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI KRISHNA TIRATH)
(a) &(b): The provision of supplementary nutrition under ICDS Programme prescribes feeding norms for various
categories of beneficiaries. For children in age group of 0-6months, exclusive breastfeeding has been recommended.
For children in the age group of 6 months to 3 years and Pregnant & Lactating Mothers, Take Home Ration (THR) in the
form of Micronutrient Fortified Food and/or energy-dense food marked as ‘ICDS Food Supplement’ has been provided. For
children in the age group of 3-6 years, there is provision of morning snack in the form of milk/banana/seasonal fruits/
Micronutrient Fortified Food etc. and a Hot Cooked Meal.
The cost norms of SNP for children in the age group of 6 months to 6 years are Rs. 4.00 per beneficiary/per
day and for P&L mothers, the norm is Rs.5.00 per beneficiary/per day. Further, under the Strengthened and Restructured
ICDS, these have been revised to Rs.6.00 and Rs. 7.00 per beneficiary/ per day, for children in the age group of 6
months to 6 years and for P&L mothers, respectively. The revised rates would follow the phased implementation over
the 3 years of the Strengthened and Restructured ICDS on the existing cost sharing ratio of 50:50 between the Centre
and the States other than NER where it will continue to be on 90:10 basis.
(c): No, Madam.
(d): Does not arise.