(a) whether regular inspections of the Anganwadis are conducted by the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) authorities, if so, the details and the outcome thereof;
(b) whether improvements have been observed in maternal health since the implementation of ICDS Scheme and if so, the details thereof; and
(c) whether the number of malnourished children has reduced during the last three years across the country and is so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
(SHRIMATI SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)
(a) to (c): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
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Statement referred to in reply to Part (a) to (c) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No.116 by Shrimati Meenakshi Lekhi to be answered on 28.06.2019 regarding Inspection of Anganwadis
(a) This Ministry issued the “Guidelines for Monitoring and Supervision Visits to ICDS Blocks and Anganwadi Centres by officials of States and Central Government” on 20.10.2010 to all the States/UTs in order to standardize the practice of monitoring and supervision visits under the Anganwadi Services of Umbrella Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme. These Guidelines prescribe the minimum requirement of visits which are to be made by officials of the State and Central Government. The States/UTs were requested to adhere to the Guidelines for implementation and also to ensure a mechanism for reviewing the monitoring and supervision visits. These Guidelines also prescribe check-lists for making monitoring and supervisory visits by the officials.
Government has also introduced a 5-tier monitoring and review mechanism at different levels (National/State/District/Block and Anganwadi level) for monitoring the status of Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) for which guidelines were issued on 31.03.2011. Composition and key roles of such committees at different level have been defined therein.
Ministry of Women and Child Development is continuously monitoring implementation of Anganwadi Services Scheme including inspection/visits to Anganwadi Centres. During 2018-19, a total number of 2512 AWCs were visited/ inspected by Central Monitoring Unit, National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development (NIPCCD) in 13 States/UTs. The points emerged during the inspection/visits were shared with concerned States/UTs for taking remedial action to improve the implementation of Anganwadi Services Scheme.
(b): Improvement in the status of maternal health in the country has been observed as per National Family Health Survey (NFHS) Report as below:
(i) As per NFHS –III (2005-06), 57.9% Pregnant women (15-49 years) were anaemic. Similarly as per NFHS-IV (2015-16), 50.4% pregnant women were anaemic. Thus, anaemia percentage among pregnant women has decreased by 7.5% in the country during the aforesaid period.
(ii) Maternal Mortality Ratio of India has declined by 37 points from 167/lakh live births in 2011-13 to 130/lakh live births in 2014-16.
(c) As per National Family Health Surveys (NFHS), there has been a decline in the prevalence of malnourishment among children (0-5 years) from 42.5% in NFHS-III (2005-2006) to 35.8 % in NFHS-IV (2015-2016). The improvement in the nutrition status of children in the last decade is given below:
S.No. Child under-nutrition Indicators NFHS III
(2005-2006) NFHS IV
(2015-16)
1. Children under 5 years who are stunted 48.0 % 38.4 %
2. Children under 5 years who are wasted 19.8 % 21.0 %
3. Children under 5 years who are underweight 42.5 % 35.7 %
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