Lok Sabha Question No. 915 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-05
Subject: Reopening of Anganwadis
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Jagdambika Pal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UN-STARRED QUESTION NO.915

TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.02.2021

## REOPENING OF ANGANWADIS

## 915: SHRI JAGDAMBIKA PAL :

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

- (a) whether the Government has any plan to resume functioning of Anganwadis  at  full  capacity  under  the unlock plan, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government had taken any steps to provide  for  nutrition  and  vaccine  facilities  under  the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme during the lockdown phase and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  steps  to  ramp  up  nutrition  and  vaccine services under the ICDS scheme under the unlock plan;
- (d) whether the Government has any plans to universalise  the  ICDS  scheme  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;  and
- (e) whether the Government has any proposal to include eggs in ICDS nutritional norms in order to improve the nutrition quotient and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER FOR WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SRIMATI SMIRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

- (a) Government  has  issued  guidance  note,  dated  11.11.2020,  for  resuming  Anganwadi Services  to  all  States/UTs  requesting  them  to  develop  their  own  SOP  for  re-opening  AWC outside  containment  zones  when  the  respective  State/UT  declares  it  safe  for  AWCs  to operate.   States/UTs  were  also  directed  to  comply  with  the  COVID-19  related  directions issued by Government of India from time to time.
- (b) Functioning  of  Anganwadi  Centres  during  Covid-19  circumstances  was  permitted  as per guidelines issued by Government on 15.04.2020 for distribution of food items and nutrition support  by  Anganwadi  Workers,  once  in  15  days,  at  the  doorstep  of  beneficiaries,  i.e., children, women and lactating mothers to ensure continuous nutritional support.
- (c) Guidance  note  for  continuation  of  services  in  the  context  of  COVID-19  was  issued stating that States/UTs may provide cooked food and take home ration either at the AWCs or delivered at home, based on the prevailing local situation, while observing social distancing and  hygiene  protocols  during  storage,  preparation  and  distribution  of  the  same.   Directions were given in the guidance note for strict monitoring of severely malnourished children, high risk pregnancy and lactating mothers and continued home-based delivery of services.
- (d) Anganwadi Services have been expanded to cover all habitations across the country.
- (e) Anganwadi  Services  is  a  Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme,  implemented  through  State Governments/UT Administrations, aimed at addressing health, nutrition and the development needs of children in the age group of 0-6 years, and pregnant and lactating mothers. Central government  prescribes  the  calorie  and  protein  content  of  the  food  for  SNP  to  be  provided through the meal whereas the recipe is decided by the States/UTs depending on local food and culturally appropriate habits.

A  programme  to support  development  of  Poshan  Vatikas  at  Anganwadi  centers  to  meet dietary diversity gap leveraging traditional wisdom in nutritional practices has also been taken up.

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