Lok Sabha Question No. 4371 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-19
Subject: Monitoring Mechanism for WCD Schemes
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Alok Kumar Suman

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4371

TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.07.2019

## MONITORING MECHANISM FOR WCD SCHEMES

## 4371.   DR. ALOK KUMAR SUMAN:

Will the Minister of WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state :

- (a) whether the Government has taken any measures to monitor the number of schemes implemented for widows and girl child in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise including Bihar ; and
- (c) whether the Government has taken any steps to ensure proper implementation of these schemes across the country and if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise specially in the Gopalganj district of Bihar ?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

- (a) to  (c):  There  are  a  number  of  schemes  being  implemented  by  the  Ministry  through  States Governments/UT Administrations which address the common needs of widows and girl child in the country.  While  some  schemes  cover  a  broader  segment  of  population  of  which  widows  and  girl child constitute a part, there are widow and child specific schemes also. The major schemes of the Ministry in this regard are as under:-

Anganwadi  Services :  The  Anganwadi  Services  Scheme  under  the  Umbrella  Integrated Child  Development  Services  (ICDS)  is  a  unique  programme  for  early  childhood  care  and development. It offers a package of six services, viz . Supplementary Nutrition, Pre-School NonFormal  Education,  Nutrition  and  Health  Education,  Immunization,  Health  Check-Up  and Referral Services.

Poshan  Abhiyaan :  Poshan  Abhiyaan  (National  Nutrition  Mission)  targets  to  reduce  the level of stunting, under-nutrition, anemia  and low birth weight babies by reducing malnutrition/under nutrition, anemia among young children as also, focus on adolescent girls.

Scheme for Adolescent Girls (SAG): Scheme for Adolescent Girls aims at out of school girls in the age group 11-14, to empower and improve their social status through nutrition, life skills and  home  skills.  The  scheme  has  nutritional  and  non  nutritional  components  which  include nutrition,  iron  and  folic  acid  supplementation,  health  check  up  and  referral  service,  nutrition  and health  education  mainstreaming  out  of  school  girls  to  join  formal  schooling,  bridge  course/  skill training,  life  skill  education,  home  management  etc,  counselling/  guidance  on  accessing  public services.

National Creche Scheme : National Creche Scheme provides day care facilities to children of age group of 6 months to 6 years of working women. The facilities are provided for seven and half hours a day for 26 days in a month. Children are provided with supplementary nutrition, early childcare education, health and sleeping facilities.

Child Protection Services (CPS) : Child Protection Services Scheme aims to contribute to the improvement in the well-being of children in difficult circumstances, as well as, reduction of vulnerabilities to situation and actions that leads to abuse, neglect, exploitation, abandonment and separation of children from parent. The Scheme aims to spread awareness regarding the ways and means to prevent all children from child  abuse of  any  kind including child sexual abuse.

Home for Widows : A Home for Widows has been set up in Vrindavan, UP with a capacity of 1000 inmates to provide widows a safe and secure place of stay, health services, nutritious food, legal and counselling services.

Swadhar Greh Scheme : Swadhar Greh scheme targets the women victims of unfortunate circumstances who are in need of institutional support for rehabilitation so that they could lead their life with dignity.

Mahila Shakti Kendra  Scheme(MSK) :  The Mahila Shakti Kendra Scheme of Ministry of Women and Child Development aims to empower rural women through community participation and to create an environment in which they realize their full potential.

Beti  Bachao Beti Padhao :  Beti  Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) scheme is a tri-ministerial initiative of Ministries of Women and Child Development, Health & Family Welfare and Human Resource  Development  with  a  focus  on  awareness  and  advocacy  campaign  for  changing mindsets,  multi-sectoral  action  in  select  districts,  enabling  girls'  education  and effective enforcement  of  Pre-Conception  &  Pre  Natal  Diagnostic  Techniques  (PC&PNDT)  Act.  The specific objectives of the scheme include preventing gender biased sex selective elimination; ensuring survival and protection of the girl child and ensuring education and participation of the girl child.

The  Ministry  has  taken  various  measures  to  ensure  proper  implementation  of  these schemes across the country including Gopalganj district of Bihar. The Ministry has developed web based Management and Information (MIS) Software named ICDS-(CAS) to monitor implementation of various schemes, such as Poshan Abhiyan and Anganwadi Services. For monitoring of BBBP, a system  is  put  in  place  at  all  levels  like  National,  State,  District,  Block  and  Village  for  all States/districts  including  Bihar  to  track  progress  on  monitorable  targets,  outcomes  and  process indicators. A National Task Force headed by Secretary, Ministry of Women & Child Development and a State Task Force headed by the Chief Secretary monitor the progress of BBBP on a regular basis. At the district level, the District Collectors (DCs) undertake monthly review of the progress of the activities to achieve the objectives of the BBBP scheme. Monitoring of the other schemes of the Ministry  is  undertaken  through  meetings  and  video  conferences  with  the  officials  of  State Governments/UTs. Monitoring committees are also set up at all levels to take stock of the progress of the scheme. Ministry officials also conduct field visits to ascertain the status of implementation of the schemes. Moreover, State Governments/UTs, and District administration carry out inspection and ensure proper implementation of the schemes.

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