Lok Sabha Question No. 702 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-26
Subject: Revision of Unit Cost under ICDS
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Shri Sudama Prasad

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN & CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 702 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.07.2024

## REVISION OF UNIT COST UNDER ICDS

## 702:    SHRI SUDAMA PRASAD;

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

- (a) whether the Government  has  taken  note that, under Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme, as per revision made in 2017, the unit cost is Rs. 8.00 per beneficiary per day for normal children and Rs. 9.50 per beneficiary  per  day  for  pregnant/nursing  mothers/adolescent  girls  and  Rs. 12.00 to severely malnourished children, which is grossly inadequate;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Government  intends  to  revise  these  unit  costs  for  effectively tackling  malnutrition,  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  if  not,  the  reasons therefor;
- (d) whether the Government has ensured that every Anganwadi Centre (AWC) building  in  the  country  is  in  compliance  with  the  norms  prescribed  by  the Ministry (2011) and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (e) whether the Government intends to increase allocation under ICDS towards ensuring that every AWC building has infrastructure as per mandated norms, and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI ANNPURNA DEVI)

(a)  to  (c) Nutritional  support  through Supplementary Nutrition Programme (SNP) is one of the integral components of Mission Poshan 2.0, under which supplementary nutrition is provided to children (06 months to 6 years), pregnant women and lactating mothers (PWLM) and Adolescent Girls (14 to 18 years). The Scheme is implemented through the States/UTs on a cost sharing basis in the ratio of 50:50 between Centre and States/UTs with legislature (90:10 for North-Eastern and Himalayan States and 100% for UTs without legislature).

The cost norms for supplementary nutrition were revised in 2017, with provision of Rs.8/- for children (6 months to 6 years), Rs.12/- for severely malnourished children (6 months to 6 years) and Rs.9.50/- for pregnant women and lactating mothers and adolescent girls.

(d) & (e) Under Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, there is a provision of construction of 50000 AWCs building over a period of five years @10000 AWCs per year.  The  cost  norms  for  construction  of  Anganwadi  Centres  in  convergence  with MGNREGS have been revised from Rs.7 Lakh per AWC to Rs.12 Lakh per AWC wherein Rs.8.00 Lakh would be provided under MGNREGS, Rs.2.00 Lakh under 15 th FC (or any other untied funds) and Rs.2.00 Lakh by MWCD per AWC to be shared between  Centre  and  States/UTs  in  the  prescribed  cost  sharing  ratio.  Further, States/UTs have also been advised to continue to tap funds for construction of AWC buildings  from  various  schemes  such  as  Member  of  Parliament  Local  Area Development  Scheme  (MPLADS),  Rural  Infrastructure  Development  Fund  (RIDF), Finance Commission Grants to Panchayati Raj Institutions, Multi Sectoral development Programme (MSDP) of Ministry of Minority Affairs, etc.

Directions have been issued to States/UTs to co-locate Anganwadi Centres, which are running on rent  without  sufficient  infrastructure,  at  nearby  Primary  Schools,  where space is available. In  order  to  improve  the  infrastructure  facility  of  Anganwadi  Centres  (AWCs)  the Ministry has increased the cost of construction of drinking water facilities and toilets at Anganwadi Centres from Rs.10,000/- to Rs.17,000/- and Rs.12,000/- to Rs.36,000/- respectively.

During  the  15 th   Finance  Commission  cycle,  2  lakh  Anganwadi  Centres  @  40,000 AWCs per year are to be upgraded as Saksham Anganwadis for improved nutrition delivery and for early childhood care and development. Saksham Anganwadis are to be provided with infrastructure better than the conventional Anganwadi Centres which includes  internet/Wi-Fi  connectivity,  LED  screens,  water  purifier/installation  of  RO Machine and smart learning equipments.

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