Lok Sabha Question No. 2022 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-07-31
Subject: ICDS Scheme
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: P.K.SREEMATHI TEACHER

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### GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

**LOK SABHA**

**UN-STARRED QUESTION No. 2022**

TO BE ANSWERED ON 31.07.2015

**ICDS SCHEME**

2022.  SHRIMATI P.K. SREEMATHI TEACHER:

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

1. whether posts of a large number of Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) functionaries like District Programme Officers (DPOs), Child Development Project Officer (CDPO), ICDS  supervisors, anganwadi helpers and anganwadi workers are lying vacant in the country;
2. if so, the details thereof along with the impact of absence of such functionaries on the effective implementation and monitoring of the ICDS scheme;
3. the details of sanctioned strength and ICDS functionaries along with the vacant posts of ICDS functionaries as on date; and
4. the steps taken by the Government to fill up the vacancies?

**ANSWER**

MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

(SHRIMATI MANEKA SANJAY GANDHI)

1. to (d) : The details of sanctioned, in-position and vacant posts of ICDS functionaries like Child Development Project Officer (CDPO),  Supervisors, Anganwadi Workers and helpers as on 31.03.2015 are as under:

| Posts                                            |   Sanctioned |   In-position |   Vacant |
|--------------------------------------------------|--------------|---------------|----------|
| Child Development Project Officer (CDPO)/ ACDPOs |         9043 |          5495 |     3548 |
| Supervisors                                      |        55187 |         35735 |    19452 |
| Anganwadi Workers                                |      1400000 |       1287851 |   112149 |
| Anganwadi helpers                                |      1283150 |       1164541 |   118609 |

Information on vacancy position of District Programme Officer is not maintained at the Central. Level.

ICDS is self selecting scheme. States/ UTs have been requested from time to time to improve implementation of the ICDS Scheme and optimize coverage of beneficiaries at the Anganwadi Centres. There has been significant progress in the implementation of ICDS Scheme in terms of increase in number of operational projects and Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) and coverage of beneficiaries.

As per Schematic norms of the ICDS Scheme, Government of India is responsible for the Planning & Policy issues whereas State Governments are responsible for the implementation of the Scheme. The reasons for shortage of Anganwadi workers across the country are largely due to administrative, procedural and legal delays in filling-up of vacant posts by the State Governments/ UT Administrations. Ministry of Women & Child Development has repeatedly impressed upon the State Governments/ UT Administrations to take all required measures for early operationalisation of sanctioned Anganwadi Centres (AWCs)/ mini-AWCs including filling-up vacant positions.

The Government has introduced 5-tier monitoring & review mechanism at National, State, District, Block and Anganwadi Levels and has issued guidelines on 31.03.2011. The role of Committees at State, District and Block levels is to monitor and review the overall performance of ICDS Scheme in the State/ UT including vacancy position of ICDS functionaries at different levels.

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