Status of ICDS

Presently, the Anganwadi Services Scheme is implemented through 7075 Projects and 1389110 operational Anganwadi Centres (as on 30.6.2021) across the country covering 9.06 crore beneficiaries.

In order to improve nutritional outcomes in children to address the issue of malnutrition across the country the Government is taking the following measures:

1. Government has accorded high priority to the issue of malnutrition and is implementing several schemes like Anganwadi Services, Scheme for Adolescent Girls and Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) under the Umbrella Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme as direct targeted interventions; Supplementary Nutrition is provided under the Anganwadi Services Scheme in the form of Hot Cooked Meal, Morning Snack and Take Home Ration;
2. POSHAN Abhiyaan launched on 8^th March 2018, aims to reduce malnutrition in the country in a phased manner, through a synergised and result oriented approach;
3. Government has taken measures to strengthen nutritional content, delivery, outreach and outcomes with focus on developing practices that nurture health, wellness and immunity to disease and malnutrition under Poshan 2.0 announced in Budget 2021-22. Steps have also been taken to improve nutritional quality and testing, strengthen delivery and leverage technology under Poshan Tracker, a robust ICT platform to improve governance. Government has advised States/UTs to ensure that the quality of supplementary nutrition conforms to prescribed standards laid down under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and regulations made thereunder. States/UTs have also been advised to promote use of AYUSH systems for prevention of malnutrition and related diseases. A programme to support development of Poshan Vatikas at Anganwadi centers to meet dietary diversity gap leveraging traditional knowledge in nutritional practices has also been taken up;
4. Streamlined Guidelines were issued for transparency and accountability in delivery of supplementary nutrition and to track nutritional outcomes on 13.01.2021;
5. Government of India under the Universal Immunization Program (UIP), is providing immunization services through outreach and facility based immunization sessions. Periodic intensification of routine immunization activities - Mission Indradhanush and Intensified Mission Indradhanush are undertaken from time to time to vaccinate the partially vaccinated and unvaccinated children. Further, various activities for demand generation are undertaken through electronic and print media like radio, television, posters, hoardings, social media platforms etc. and Inter personal communication by front line health workers and other community workers like Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs) and Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs).

Funds allocated and utilized under Anganwadi Services Scheme in the State of Tamil Nadu during the last two years is as follows:

(Rupees in Lakhs)

This information was given by the Union Minister for Women and Child Development, Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani, in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.

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BY/AS