As per the National Family Health Survey-3 (NFHS-3), 2005-06 42.5% children under 5 years , in India are underweight. The Ministry has adopted multi-sectoral approach for accelerated action on the determinants of malnutrition in targeting nutrition in schemes/programmes of all the sectors. As the multi-sectoral approach takes some time to show results and when implemented together, have a trickle down and horizontal effect to benefit the population over a period of time, other part of the approach is direct and specific interventions targeted towards the vulnerable groups such as children below six years, adolescent girls, pregnant and lactating mothers.
The Government has accorded high priority to the issue of malnutrition and is implementing several schemes/programmes of different Ministries/Departments through State Governments/UT Administrations. The schemes/programmes include the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), Mid-Day Meal Scheme, Rajiv Gandhi Schemes for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls (RGSEAG) namely SABLA, Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojna (IGMSY) as Direct targeted interventions. Besides, indirect Multi-sectoral interventions include Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), National Horticulture Mission, National Food Security Mission, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), Total Sanitation Campaign, National Rural Drinking Water Programme etc. All these schemes have potential to address one or other aspect of Nutrition. Several of the existing schemes/programmes including ICDS have been expanded / universalized just before or during the Eleventh Five year Plan, hence, the results are likely to be visible after some time.
The ICDS and the RGSEAG (SABLA) are the two major nutrition related programmes being implemented by the Ministry of Women and Child Development. The ICDS is a Centrally sponsored scheme, implemented by the States on a sharing basis. Government provides Grants-in-Aid in the ratio of 50:50 (90:10 for NER States) between the Centre and the States for supplementary nutrition on a year to year basis as per approved budgetary allocations and availability of funds. Supplementary nutrition as a gap filling measure is provided to children below six years of age, pregnant and nursing mothers as one of the services under the Integrated Child Development Services Scheme (ICDS). The ICDS is a universal but a self selecting programme. The services are currently availed by 967.41 lakh beneficiaries which include 786.30 lakh children (6 months to 6 years) and 181.10 lakh pregnant and lactating mothers.
The Rajiv Gandhi Schemes for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls or ‘SABLA’ provides a package of services including health and nutrition to adolescent girls in the age group of 11-14 years for out of school girls and 15-18 years for all girls for nutrition in 200 districts as a pilot. The scheme includes Nutrition provision (@ Rs.5 per day per beneficiary (same as P&L mothers under ICDS). Nearly 100 lakh adolescent girls are expected to be benefitted under the scheme.
This was stated by the Minister for Women and Child Development, Smt. Krishna Tirath, in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today
The Government has accorded high priority to the issue of malnutrition and is implementing several schemes/programmes of different Ministries/Departments through State Governments/UT Administrations. The schemes/programmes include the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), Mid-Day Meal Scheme, Rajiv Gandhi Schemes for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls (RGSEAG) namely SABLA, Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojna (IGMSY) as Direct targeted interventions. Besides, indirect Multi-sectoral interventions include Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), National Horticulture Mission, National Food Security Mission, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), Total Sanitation Campaign, National Rural Drinking Water Programme etc. All these schemes have potential to address one or other aspect of Nutrition. Several of the existing schemes/programmes including ICDS have been expanded / universalized just before or during the Eleventh Five year Plan, hence, the results are likely to be visible after some time.
The ICDS and the RGSEAG (SABLA) are the two major nutrition related programmes being implemented by the Ministry of Women and Child Development. The ICDS is a Centrally sponsored scheme, implemented by the States on a sharing basis. Government provides Grants-in-Aid in the ratio of 50:50 (90:10 for NER States) between the Centre and the States for supplementary nutrition on a year to year basis as per approved budgetary allocations and availability of funds. Supplementary nutrition as a gap filling measure is provided to children below six years of age, pregnant and nursing mothers as one of the services under the Integrated Child Development Services Scheme (ICDS). The ICDS is a universal but a self selecting programme. The services are currently availed by 967.41 lakh beneficiaries which include 786.30 lakh children (6 months to 6 years) and 181.10 lakh pregnant and lactating mothers.
The Rajiv Gandhi Schemes for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls or ‘SABLA’ provides a package of services including health and nutrition to adolescent girls in the age group of 11-14 years for out of school girls and 15-18 years for all girls for nutrition in 200 districts as a pilot. The scheme includes Nutrition provision (@ Rs.5 per day per beneficiary (same as P&L mothers under ICDS). Nearly 100 lakh adolescent girls are expected to be benefitted under the scheme.
This was stated by the Minister for Women and Child Development, Smt. Krishna Tirath, in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today
