Women become active through ICDS scheme in Haryana

Chandigarh, June 15 (UNI) Over one lakh women residing in the villages of Haryana have been catapulted to decision-making role in 6200 Village Level Committees of Women, which facilitates implementation of Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS).

The scheme is aimed at addressing the inter related needs of the children below six years of age, pregnant and nursing women and other women in the age group of 15 to 45 years all across the state.

While stating this here today, a spokesman of the Women and Child Development Department said these committees comprised of all women Panches, three educated adolescent girls, Mahila Mandal Pradhans, the representatives of Self Help Groups, war widows, social activists, school lady teachers, ASHA and Anganwadi Workers.

Village Level Committees of Women had been declared as a sub-committee of the Gram Panchayat under Gram Panchayat Act, to empower women by persuading them to step into decision making role.

He further said the State Government had generated employment for about 75,000 women by dispensing off with the existing centralised system of procuring food for the beneficiaries of ICDS and entrusted the responsibility of preparation of food items to Women Self Groups and Mother's Groups under the supervision of village level committees. The women self-help groups received funds in advance from Village Level Committees for procuring raw material and preparing food.

Besides generating employment to these women, the scheme also helped in serving hot cooked food to the beneficiaries as per their choice and in accordance with menu and supply schedules. A paradigm shift had been introduced in the implementation of ICDS as the programme had been decentralised and made community driven.

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