Lok Sabha Question No. 2462 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-11
Subject: Mitigation of Problems in ICDS
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: K. MARAGATHAM, JANARDAN SINGH SIGRIWAL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2462

TO BE ANSWERED ON  11.03.2016

## MITIGATION OF PROBLEMS IN ICDS

## 2462   SHRIMATI K. MARAGATHAM AND SHRI JANARDAN SINGH SIGRIWAL:

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

- (a) whether Government is aware that ICDS scheme is plagued by lack of quality food, uneven distribution  and  siphoning  of  food  and  leakages  and  grant  of  contracts  to  private contractors to supply supplementary nutrition despite Supreme Court orders;
- (b) if so,  the details thereof along with the corrective steps taken in this regard;
- (c) whether a Committee of Secretaries has been set up under the ICDS scheme to monitor and ensure proper supply of nutritional  food  products  under  the  ICDS,  if  so,  the  details thereof; and
- (d) whether Government has fixed any target to ensure complete coverage, if so, the details thereof and steps taken to achieve the target?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b)  The  Integrated  Child  Development  Services  (ICDS)  Scheme  is  a  centrally  sponsored scheme  implemented  by  the  States/UTs.    The  Scheme  provides  for  a  package  of  six  services including Supplementary Nutrition (SNP) for children in the age group of 0-6 years and pregnant and lactating mothers.

Government  of  India  has  issued  guidelines  on  24.2.2009  prescribing  the  revised nutritional  and  calorific  standards  in  the  food  served  at  Anganwadi  Centres  (AWCs).    These guidelines were endorsed by the Apex Court on 22.04.2009.  All the States/UTs are mandated to observe  these  guidelines  and  ensure  quality  standard  of  Supplementary  Nutrition  Programme. Guidelines  were  also  issued  on  9.5.2012,  26.9.2014  and  23.6.2015  in  this  regard.    The Government of India has been receiving complaints about quality of food and leakages.  Since the scheme is  implemented  by  the  States/UTs,  these  complaints  are  forwarded  to  them  for  taking remedial action.  Reports are also sought in cases of serious nature.   In the review meetings, the States/UTs  are  requested  to  improve  all  services  under  ICDS  Scheme  including  Supplementary Nutrition Programme.

The Supreme Court vide their order dated 07.10.2004, in a Public Interest Litigation W.P. No.196 of 2001, had directed that the contractors shall not be used for supply of nutrition in Anganwadis and preferably ICDS funds shall be spent by making use of village communities, SelfHelp Groups and Mahila Mandals for buying of grains and preparation of meals.  All the States/UTs were advised on 17.12.2004 to comply with the Supreme Court order dated 7.10.2004.

Later on, in Civil Appeal No.7104 of 2011 - Shagun Mahila Udyogik Sahakari Sanstha Maryadit versus State of Maharashtra  & Others the Supreme Court gave judgement dated 19 th August, 2011 in which the Court has inter-alia stressed on maintaining the quality of food.  All the States/UTs were requested on 9 th May, 2012 to comply with the directions of the Supreme Court in the aforesaid judgement.

(c) Government of India has introduced a Five Tier Monitoring and Review Mechanism at different  levels  (National/State/District/Block  and  Anganwadi  level).    The  Committee  at  the National level is headed by Secretary, Ministry of Women & Child Development with Secretaries of line  Ministries,  heads  of  NIN    and  NIPCCD  as  members.    These  Committees  are  mandated  to monitor the implementation of the scheme.

(d) The ICDS Scheme was universalised in 2008-09 in which opening of 14 lakh AWCs and 7076  projects  in  the  country  were  approved.    As  on  date,  all  the  14  lakh  AWCs  have  been sanctioned and 13.49 lakh AWCs and 7072 projects are operational covering the entire country.

Continuous  efforts  are  being  made  to  operationalize  the  remaining  AWCs  for  which States are addressed from time to time.

****