ICDS scheme to cover more areas:Govt

New Delhi, Nov 30 (UNI) The Government has decided to extend the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme to new areas across the country, the Lok Sabha was informed today.

Replying to a question, Minister of State for Women and Child Development Renuka Chowdhury said the decision had been taken in order to cover all the hitherto uncovered habitations.

She said the States/Union Teritories were requested to undertake a micro-level survey with regard to predominantly SC/ST/minority habitations and furnish specific requirements of additional projects/Anganwadi centres(AWCs) and Mini AWCs.

Additional requirements for 613 projects, 2.2 lakh AWCs and 77360 Mini AWCs had been received from 34 States/UT administrations. These requirements have been incorporated in a composite proposal for component approvals, she added.

She said state-wise allocation of funds for this purpose would be made only after approval was accorded.

Ms Chowdhury said the ICDS scheme envisages, inter-alia, involvement of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in the programme implementation. As per information received from the States/UTs, PRIs have been associated in the implementation of the ICDS scheme in different areas like in selection of Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) and Anganwadi Helpers (AWHs), supervising distribution of supplementary nutrition, distribution of honorarium to AWWs/AWHs and providing infrastructural facilities for AWCs, she added.

UNI