Question : Children Enrolled in Anganwadis

(a) the total number of beneficiaries including children enrolled under Anganwadis at present along with the funds released for distribution of cooked food to the enrolled beneficiaries under ICDS;
(b) whether the Government has noted that a large number of ghost/fake beneficiaries have been identified across the country;
(c) if so, the details thereof along with the number of such ghost/fake beneficiaries, State/UT-wise; and
(d) the steps taken by the Government to weed out ghost/fake beneficiaries under the said scheme?

MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILDDEVELOPMENT
(SHRIMATI SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

(a) The total number of beneficiaries including children enrolled under Anganwadi Services under Umbrella Integrated Child Development Schemeas on 31st March 2019 and funds released for Supplementary Nutrition Program for the year (2018-19), is as under:-

Beneficiaries of Supplementary Nutrition Fund Released for SNP
(2018-19)
Rs. in Lakhs
Total Children (6 months - 6 years) Pregnant Women & Lactating Mothers Total Beneficiaries
7,03,74,122 1,71,86,549 8,75,60,671 8,47,591.84

(b) & (d): No such survey has been conducted by the Ministry. Supplementary Nutrition Programme is implemented as Direct Benefit Transfer Scheme. The beneficiaries under the Anganwadi Services Scheme are identified on the basis of Aadhaar which is used as identity document for delivery of services or benefits which brings in transparency and efficiency and enables beneficiaries to get their entitlements.

The beneficiaries not possessing the Aadhaar card are assisted by the field functionaries to obtain the same. Till such time they get the Adhaar card, they are provided the Anganwadi Services on the basis of alternative identification document.

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