Lok Sabha Question No. 3397 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-17
Subject: Task Force for ICDS Scheme
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Kunar Hembram

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3397

TO BE ANSWERED ON 17.12.2021

## TASK FORCE FOR ICDS SCHEME

†3397. SHRI KUNAR HEMBRAM:

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

- (a) the present status of Integrated Child Development Scheme and Women Empowerment Schemes being implemented by the Union Government in West  Bengal;
- (b)        whether the Government has constituted any task force for proper   implementation of said schemes;
- (c)          if so, the details thereof; and
- (d)        the details of funds released by the Government in budget of current year for the purpose, State/UT-wise?

## ANSWER

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

- (a)       In West Bengal a total of 576 Projects and 1,19,481 Anganwadi Centres have been sanctioned out of this all  are operationalised catering to the needs of   87.69 lakh beneficiaries.  Under  Anganwadi  Services,  a  package  of  six  services,  comprising Supplementary nutrition; pre-school non-formal education; nutrition and health education; immunization; health checkup; and referral services are provided to targeted beneficiaries  i.e.  all  children  below  6  years  of  age,  Pregnant  Women  and  Lactating Mothers. Three of the six services namely, Immunization, Health Check-up and Referral Services are delivered through Public Health Infrastructure under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.

As far as schemes related to women empowerment is concerned Mahila Shakti Kendra  (MSK) Scheme  was  approved  in  November,  2017  as  a  centrally  sponsored scheme to empower rural women through community participation. The scheme aims to facilitate inter-sectoral convergence of schemes and programs meant for women. The scheme is implemented through State Governments (including West Bengal) and UT Administrations with a cost sharing ratio of 60:40 between Centre and States except for North  East  &  Special  Category  States  where  the  funding  ratio  is  90:10.  For  Union Territories 100% central funding is provided.

- (b)  Government  has  not  constituted  any  task  force  for   implementation  of above  said schemes. However from  time to time, Government has taken many steps for  strengthening  Anganwadi  Services.  These  include  revision  of  cost  norms  of

supplementary nutrition, provision of construction of Anganwadi Centres under Convergence  with  Mahatma  Gandhi  National  Rural  Employment  Guarantee  Scheme (MGNREGS),  provision  of  drinking  water  and  sanitation  facilities  at  AWCs  under Swachhta Action Plan (SAP) etc. There have been sustained engagements with State Governments  for  review  and  improvement  including  recent  interactions  to  discuss different  implementation  related  issues  to  strengthen  services.  Further,  streamlined guidelines  were  issued  on  13.01.2021,  covering  several  aspects  such  as  quality assurance,  roles  and  responsibilities  of  duty  holders,  procedure  for  procurement, integrating AYUSH concepts and Data management and monitoring through ' Poshan Tracker '  for  transparency,  efficiency  and  accountability  in  delivery  of  Supplementary Nutrition has been issued.

The  Ministry  of  Women  and  Child  Development  undertakes  regular  VCs  and meetings to review/monitor implementation of the Aanganwadi Services/MSK scheme.

(c) & (d)      Does not arise.

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