The women and child development ministry has sought Rs 2 lakh crore for strengthening the existing 14 lakh anganwadi centres.
Embarrassed by the latest findings of a hunger and malnutrition (HUNGaMA) report, Union minister of women and child development Krishna Tirath on Wednesday said her ministry is going to restructure the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS).
The HUNGaMA report by the Naandi Foundation had indicated that anganwadi centres under the ICDS have not been very helpful in curbing malnutrition as at least 42% children were found to be underweight and 59% had stunted growth.
Tirath was initially reluctant to accept the harsh truth about high malnutrition numbers as she said the figures given by the NGO have to be validated. But later she said the government is planning to take a multi-sectoral approach in dealing with the problem.
Under the revised scheme, the ministry plans to hire additional four lakh anganwadi workers in 200 selected high burden districts, to counsel parents on nutritional aspects. The ministry has also sought Rs2 lakh crore for strengthening the existing 14 lakh anganwadi centres.
The HUNGaMA report pointed out that although the coverage of anganwadi centres is almost 96%, only 19% mothers were found to have been counseled on the importance of nutritional food.
This report has also given the Congress a political door to talk about the much criticised and debated Food Security Bill introduced in the winter session of Parliament. “Through the Food Security Bill, we will be able to address the issue of malnutrition as more food grains will be available to the poor and needy,” Tirath said.
The Bill has specific entitlements for pregnant and lactating women, children below six years of age and destitute and homeless persons. It also proposes to give additional support to pregnant and lactating women for six months.
“There is a need to redouble our efforts, increase awareness, improved implementation of programmes and policies. The ministry has taken a view that the action has to be further accelerated and specific action plan with time-bound objectives has to be in place,” Tirath said.
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