(a) whether the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme Nutrition Guidelines have met the real nutritional needs of the growing children in the country and if so, the details thereof;
(b) the manner in which the above guidelines are different from the WHO guidelines;
(c) whether the Government plans to re-visit ICDS guidelines in accordance with WHO guidelines and bridge the nutritional gap; and
(d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
(SHRIMATI KRISHNA RAJ)
(a): Under the Integrated Child Development Services Scheme, Supplementary Nutrition is provided to bridge the gap between the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) recommended by Indian Council of Medical Research and Average Dietary Intake (ADI) and accordingly supplementary food is provided as per the nutritional guidelines, which are as under:
Sl. No. Category Nutritional Norms
(per beneficiary per day)
Calories
(K Cal) Protein
(g)
1. Children (6-72 months) 500 12-15
2. Severely malnourished children (6-72 months) 800 20-25
3. Pregnant women and Nursing mothers 600 18-20
(b): The World Health Organization Standards has prescribed Standards only for monitoring the growth of children below 5 years, which have been adopted by the Government to measure nutritional status of children, using weight-to-age (underweight) as an indicator under Integrated Child Development Services Scheme of Ministry of Women and Child Development.
(c) & (d): Does not arise.
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