COVER HINDI - Ministry of Women and Child Development

3.5 The States have to necessarily assess the current unit
cost of meeting the nutritional norms and budget
accordingly and to ensure that supplementary nutrition is
provided as per the prescribed nutrition norms of the
Scheme to all ICDS beneficiaries.
3.6 In view of the fact that some States do not provide
adequate funds in their budget for supplementary nutrition,
the Planning Commission has been requested to address
this aspect during formulation and monitoring of State
Annual Plans and also consider earmarking of funds for
supplementary nutrition in States’ Plans.
Registration of beneficiaries: States have to ensure
registration of all eligible beneficiaries in accordance with
the applicable guidelines & norms. The norms are based
on average population coverage in an AWC and were
indicated in 1982 (based on the 1981 census). They imply
a coverage of 40 for 0-3 years, 40 for 3-6 year and 20 for
P & LM (including 4 being those recommended by the
ANM/Doctor on medical grounds), per AWC, in non-tribal
areas and 42,42 & 25, respectively, in tribal areas. By the
very nature of these norms, the same (i) would vary from
area to area, (ii) are but indicative and (iii) cannot be
construed to imply either an upper-limit or a lower-limit
for registration. All eligible beneficiaries who come to
Anganwadi Centre have to be registered and provided
services under the Scheme.
Coverage
Growth monitoring of children at Anganwadi centre
Projects: The ICDS Scheme was introduced in 33 Blocks
(Projects) in 1975. It was gradually expanded to 6277
Projects as on 14.12.06 of which 5724 Projects with 7.81
lakh AWCs have become operational as on 30.9.2006.
State-wise number of sanctioned and operational Projects/
AWCs are given in Annexure XII .
Beneficiaries: As on 30.9.06, services under the scheme
are being provided to about 654.65 lakh beneficiaries,
comprising of about 543.43 lakh children (0-6 years) and
about 111.22 lakh pregnant and lactating mothers through
a network of 9.46 lakh Anganwadi Centres. State-wise
details of beneficiaries are given at Annexure XIII .
Holistic Development
3.7 The Ministry’s emphasis has been on integrated &
holistic development of children, as far as the two basic
elements of human resource development, i.e. health and
education, are concerned.
3.8 Article 45 of the Constitution has been recently
amended to state that “The State shall endeavor to provide
early childhood care and education for all children until
they complete the age of 6 years”.
50 Annual Report 2006-07