Beneficiaries of Supplementary Nutrition Programme under ICDS increase by nearly 8% over the last four years sc

The number of beneficiaries [children (6 months to 6 years) and pregnant & lactating mothers] for supplementary nutrition under ICDS scheme of Ministry of Women and Child Development have increased from 956.12 lakh to 1030.14 lakh and Number of beneficiaries [children (3-6 years) for pre-school education increased from 353.29 lakh to 354.05 lakh during the last four years. Similarly, Anganwadi

Centres have also increased from 1338732 to 1349091 during the same period. The Development Agenda for 2016-2030 of United Nations, articulating the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), was adopted and signed by Government of India in September, 2015. The SDGs comprise of 17 goals and 169 targets. The Goals 2 and 3 relate to improvement in nutrition and ensuring healthy lives & promoting well-being for all at all ages respectively. The Food and Nutrition Board of WCD Ministry, through its regional field units, is engaged in conducting training programmes in nutrition, in addition to advocacy towards generating awareness through nutrition education programmes on the importance of healthy balanced diets especially through the use of locally available foods, mass awareness campaigns and use of electronic and print media.

Integrated Child Development Services [ICDS] Scheme is a centrally sponsored Scheme being implemented by the State Governments/UT Administrations. The scheme aims at holistic development of children below 6 years of age, pregnant women and lactating mothers by providing a package of six services comprising (i) Supplementary nutrition; (ii) Immunization; (iii) Health check-up; (iv) Referral services; (v) Pre-school non-formal education; and (vi) Nutrition & health education are provided to the targeted beneficiaries i.e. all children below 6 years, Pregnant and Lactating Mothers. Three of the six services namely Immunisation, Health Check-up and Referral Services are delivered through Public Health Infrastructure under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.

The Supplementary Nutrition (SNP) is given to the children (6 months – 6 years) and pregnant women & lactating mothers under the ICDS Scheme. 

While continuing the ICDS Scheme during the XII Plan, Government of India approved the Restructuring and Strengthening of ICDS Scheme. The goals and target of restructured and strengthened ICDS are (i) to prevent and reduce young child under nutrition by 10 % points in 0-3 years and enhance early development and learning outcomes in all children below six years of age (ii) improved care and nutrition of girls and women and to reduce anaemia prevalence in young children, girls and women by 1/5th and (iii) achieve time bound goals and outcomes with results based monitoring of indicators at different levels. 

Consequent to restructuring and strengthening of the ICDS Scheme, the existing package of services under the Scheme were reformatted. Care & Nutrition counselling [including (i) Infant & Young Child Feeding (IYCF) Promotion and Counselling, (ii) Maternal Care and Counselling, (iii) Care, Nutrition, Health & Hygiene Education and (iv) Community based care and management of underweight children] and Health Services [including (i) Immunization and micronutrient supplementation, (ii) Health Check-up and (iii) Referral Services] for children in the age group of 0-6 years and Pregnant and Lactating mothers, have been included in the core package of ICDS services. 

This information was given by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Smt. Krishana Raj in the Lok Sabha today. Beneficiaries of Supplementary Nutrition Programme under ICDS increase by nearly 8% over the last four years