(a) whether the Government has conducted a meeting with the Ministers of Women and Child Development of States to strengthen
the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme;
(b) if so, the details and outcome thereof;
(c) whether the Government proposes to increase the rate and quantity of supplementary food being provided to children
in Anganwadi Centres; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE OF THE MINSITRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVLOPMENT (SHRI KRISHNA TIRATH)
(a) &(b): A Conference of State Ministers on ICDS and Malnutrition was held on 20th, 21st and 22nd July 2011 under the
Chairpersonship of Minister of State (Independent Charge), Women and Child Development. The issues raised and discussed included
operationalization of AWCs, vacancies at different levels, welfare measures for front-line workers, issues relating to Supplementary
Nutrition including delivery and non-adherence to cost norms, disruptions, supply of material for pre-school non-formal education,
promotion of IYCF practices, focus on under 3s, health and nutrition education, convergence and issues of financial management as
well as infrastructure. Strengthening and restructuring of ICDS were also deliberated upon. The issue of malnutrition including
the need for identification and management of under-nourished children, constitution of State Nutrition Councils etc. was also discussed.
(C) &(d): The Government in Ministry of Women & Child Development has initiated the process of Strengthening and Restructuring
of Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme, under which, along with other initiatives/interventions, the proposal for
revising the cost norms of Supplementary Nutrition Programme and linking it with Consumer Price Index are also included. However,
there is no proposal to increase the quantity of SNP being provided to children in Anganwadi Centres except in the case of severely
undernourished children for which norms and guidelines would be framed.