M A I N   N E W S

Rs 1.23 lakh cr boost to child nutrition in 12th Plan
Aditi Tandon
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 25
On the lines of the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), India will now have a dedicated mission for the implementation of the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) to boost child nutrition and monitor its progress.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) yesterday approved a proposal to strengthen and restructure the ICDS in mission mode through the 12th Plan at an outlay of Rs 1.23 lakh crore.

The 1975 scheme will, for the first time, provide central funds for the construction of anganwari centres through which ICDS is implemented. So far, no central funding was available for such construction and states had to set up anganwari centres in collaboration with village panchayats. As a result, as many as 45 per cent of all 13 lakh anganwaris in India are currently being run from rented buildings.

“The Centre will now share the construction cost of each anganwari with the state in the ratio 75:25. Each centre will get Rs 4.5 lakh for construction,” Ministry of Women and Child Development officials said.

The new plan will also provide a separate budget for weighing scales in anganwaris. Each centre will get three scales — for children, pregnant mothers and adolescent girls.