Question : INCREASE IN ASSISTANCE UNDER ANGANWADI KENDRAS

(a) Whether the Supreme Court has directed the Government to increase the per day per beneficiary prescribed diet of Rs. one of Anganwadi Kendras ;

(b) If so, whether the Union Government has sought the opinion of State Governments in this regard;

(c) If so, the response of the State Governments thereto ;

(d) Whether the Central Government propose to grant additional funds to the States;

(e) If so, the details thereof, State-wise ;

(f) If not, the reasons therefor, and

(g) The details of grants given for construction of Kitchen shed and cooking as on date, State-wise?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATIKANTI SINGH)

(a) The Supreme Court, vide its order dated 29.4.2004 has, inter-alia, issued the following directions:

`We notice that norm for supply of nutritious food worth Re. 1 for every child was fixed in the year 1991. The Government should consider the revision of the norm of Re. 1 and incorporate their suggestion in the affidavit`.

(b) Yes, Sir .

(c) The suggestions received so far from the States vary from Rs.1.75/- to Rs.5.00/- per day per beneficiary for supplementary nutrition under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme.

(d),(e)&(f) Under the schematic pattern of the ICDS Scheme, the responsibility for providing supplementary nutrition as per norms lies with the States.

(g) There is no provision for construction of kitchen sheds for cooking under the ICDS Scheme. However, construction of 8816 AWCs has been sanctioned under the World Bank-assisted Project, the State-wise break-up of which is given in the statement annexed and marked as Annexure-I. Estimated cost of these AWCs is Rs. 1.25 lakh per Centre,which is borne by the Central Government and State Government in the ratio 75:25.Construction of Anganwadi Centres has also been sanctioned for NE States, including Sikkim as a special case, State-wise details of which are given in the statement annexed and marked as Annexure-IV