Dimapur, August 9 (MExN): Recently the Cabinet has cleared the first phase of expansion of Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme as per the commitment of the UPA Government to universalize the ICDS, as enunciated in the National Common Minimum Programme (NCMP)
With the proposal to sanction 467 additional ICDS projects, and 1,99,168 Anganwadi centres AWCS, the total number of projects will increase to 6119 and that of AWCs to 9.43 lakhs across the country. The expansion of ICDS is estimated to cost Rs. 476.05 crore per annum.
At present the Scheme covers 393.58 lakh children and 80.61 lakh pregnant/lactating women. With the expansion of the scheme, additionaly about 1.05 crore children and 24 lakh pregnant/lactating women are expected to be benefited. The scheme will employ about 1.88 lakh women as Anganwadi Workers and equal number of women as Anganwadi helpers as “honorary” community workers at the grass roots level. Besides, it would create about 10,000 additional regular jobs under the State Governments.
In a major development, the Kishori Shakti Yojana (KSY), aimed at breaking the inter-generational life cycle of nutritional and gender disadvantage and providing a healthy environment for self development, presently being implemented in 2000 blocks will be extended to all ICDS projects. The scheme will cost the Exchequer Rs. 45.30 crore per annum.
In addition the Government proposes to construct AWCS in the North Eastern States @ Rs. 1.75 lakhs per center. The rent of AWCS located in rented premises in rural/tribal projects has also been raised from Rs. 50 to Rs. 100/- p.m. and that of urban projects from Rs. 300 to Rs. 500/- p.m.
