Lok Sabha Question No. 653 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-02-26
Subject: Pre-Packaged Food under ICDS
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: VIJAYSINH MOHITE PATIL, ASADUDDIN OWAISI, RAJEEV SHANKARRAO SATAV

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.653

TO BE ANSWERED ON  26.02.2016

## PRE-PACKAGED FOOD UNDER ICDS

- 653 SHRI MOHITE PATIL VIJAYSINH SHANKARRAO: SHRI ASADUDDIN OWAISI: SHRI SATAV RAJEEV:

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

- (a) whether the Union Government has asked the State Governments to provide pre-packaged food  under  the  Integrated  Child  Development  Services  (ICDS)  scheme  in  violation  of Supreme Court's orders/guidelines in this regard;
- (b) if so,  the details thereof along with the response of the State Governments thereto and the reasons for such move;
- (c) whether any meeting with State Secretaries has also been held in this regard and if so, the discussions held and outcome thereof;
- (d) whether the States have been given any deadline to overhaul the programme and if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether the pre-packaged food will be provided through a company or an NGO and if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) the other steps taken/being taken by the Government to provide quality and healthy food to children under ICDS Scheme?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI MANEKA SANJAY GANDHI)

- (a) No, Madam.  There is no proposal for serving pre-packaged food under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme.  During a meeting held on 13.1.2016, the issue of quality of food was highlighted.  States/UTs were advised to ensure hygienic conditions of Anganwadi Centre Kitchen, improve quality of hot cooked meal served to the children in the AnganwadiCentres and to come up with ideas for supplying hygienic and good quality food in AnganwadiCentres.
- (b)to(e)   Does not arise in view of (a) above.

(f) The  Integrated  Child  Development  Services  (ICDS)  Scheme  is  a  centrally  sponsored scheme implemented by the States/UTs.  It aims at holistic development of children below 6 years of  age  and  pregnant  women  and  lactating  mothers  by  providing  a  package  of  six  services comprising  of  (i)  Supplementary  Nutrition  (ii)  Pre-school  non-formal  education  (iii)  Nutrition  & health education (iv) Immunization (v) Health check-up and (vi) Referral services.

Supplementary Nutrition is one of the six  services provided under the scheme to the targeted beneficiaries.  The details of Supplementary Nutrition provided to different categories of beneficiaries are as under:-

|   Sl. No. | Category                                     | Type of food                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
|-----------|----------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|         1 | Children (0-6 months)                        | Exclusive Breast feeding for first 6 months of life.                                                                                                                                                              |
|         2 | Children (6-36 months)                       | Take Home Ration containing 500 calories of energy and 12-15 gms. of protein in the form that is palatable to the child. It could be given in the form of micro-nutrient fortified food and/or energy dense food. |
|         3 | Severely malnourished children (6-36 months) | Food supplement of 800 calories of energy and 20-25 gms. of protein in the form of micronutrient fortified food and / or energy - dense food as Take Home Ration.                                                 |
|         4 | Children (3-6 years)                         | Food supplement of 500 calories of energy and 12-15 gms. of protein per child per day. Morning snacks in the form of milk / banana / seasonal fruits etc. and Hot Cooked Meal.                                    |
|         5 | Severely malnourished children (3-6 years)   | Additional 300 calories of energy and 8-10 gms. of protein (in addition to 500 calories of energy and 12-15 gms. of protein given at AWC) in the form of micro-nutrient fortified food and/or energy dense food.  |
|         6 | Pregnant women and Nursing mothers           | Take Home Ration as food supplement of 600 calories of energy and 18-20 gms. of protein per beneficiary per day in the form of micro- nutrient fortified food and / or energy dense food.                         |

Under  Wheat  Based  Nutrition  Programme  (WBNP),  foodgrains  (Wheat/Rice/  Coarse grains) are provided at BPL rates to the States/UTs based on their requirements for preparation of supplementary nutrition under ICDS.

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