Lok Sabha Question No. 192 (STARRED), answered on 2023-12-15
Subject: Funds for ICDS Training Programme
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Abdul Majeed Ariff

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO *192

TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.12.2023

## FUNDS FOR ICDS TRAINING  PROGRAMME

- *192.  ADV. A.M. ARIFF :

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  stopped  training  programmes  for  Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) functionaries across the country, if so, the details thereof and the reasons thereof;
- (b)        whether an amount of Rs. 251.11 lakhs is pending to the State of Kerala as central share of training expenses for ICDS functionaries for the FYs 2017-18, 201819 and 2019-20, if so, the reasons therefor;
- (c)        whether the Government is in receipt of the Utilization Certificate of the above said training expenses for the said years; and
- (d)        if  so,  whether  the  Government  proposed  to  expedite  the  release  of  central share towards above said training expenses without further delay, if not, the reason therefor?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) to (d): A statement is laid on the Table of House.

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## Statement referred to in reply to Part (a) to (e) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 192 to be answered on 15.12.2023 regarding  'FUNDS FOR ICDS TRAINING PROGRAMME'

(a)         The  components  of  Supplementary  Nutrition  under  Anganwadi  Services, Scheme for Adolescent Girls (SAG) and Poshan Abhiyaan have been aligned under Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 as integrated nutrition support programme from the FY 2021-22. As per Saksham Anganwadi & Poshan 2.0 Guidelines, to strengthen Anganwadi Services and to achieve their intended outcomes, it is vital to build the capacity and confidence of frontline functionaries. Mission Poshan 2.0 has capacity building  of  frontline  functionaries  as  one  its  key  pillars  for  effective  delivery  and outcome achievement.

The Frontline workers in the Anganwadi ecosystem comprise of 3 tiers, viz. Lady Supervisors, Anganwadi workers and Anganwadi Helpers. The areas of capacity building for training to these frontline workers are given as under:-

- i. Training on technical knowledge, comprising of topics like ante and post natal care  practices,  infant  and  young  child  care  and  feeding  practices,  growth monitoring,  supplementary  nutrition,  Regional  meal  plans,  poshan  vatikas, poshan tracker, pre-school education and convergence etc.
- ii. Training  on  soft  skill  based  knowledge,  comprising  of  topics  like  organising effective home visits, community based events and Jan Andolans, techniques for effective behaviour change communication, planning and time management etc.

To carry out such training, the States identify State and District level Institutes for training of field functionaries.  Training to Anganwadi functionaries is imparted at Government run Anganwadi Training Centres (AWTCs)/Middle level Training Centres (MLTCs)  or  at  National  Institute  of  Public  Cooperation  &   Child  Development (NIPCCD).

Further, Ministry has drafted a training schedule, involving a cascading model of training, wherein Master Trainers (namely, District Officers, Block Coordinators and Supervisors) are trained through NIPCCD, and the master trainers directly train all Anganwadi Workers in the field.

Further, NeGD is regularly conducting field level trainings/workshops directly for  Anganwadi Workers regarding use of the Poshan Tracker Application.  Multiple rounds of trainings have been held both virtually and physically, in various districts across the country.

(b) to (d):         With respect to Kerala, for the period 2017-18 to 2019-20, an amount of Rs. 90.20 lakhs was released to the State of Kerala as an ad-hoc grant for the year 2018-19,  as  a  one  time  grant  released  to  all  States/UTs  since  the  Utilization Certificates/Statements of Expenditure were pending for the previous financial years.