The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved an increase of Rs 12,000 crore for supplementary nutrition provided at anganwadi centres to children, adolescent girls, pregnant women and lactating mothers.
This increased funding is for the three-year administration of the project's increase in the per day cost per beneficiary from Rs 6 to Rs 8 for children between six months and three years and from Rs 7 to Rs 9.5 for pregnant women and lactating mothers. For severely malnourished children, the cost has been revised from Rs 9 to Rs 12.5, a Government statement said.Under the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS), children between six months to three years are entitled to a morning snack (in form of milk/banana/seasonal fruits or micronutrient fortified food) as well as a hot-cooked meal at an anganwadi centre, while pregnant women, lactating mothers and severely malnourished children who can't walk to the centre are entitled to take home ration.
There is also a revision in cost norms for nutrition provided to adolescent girls between the age of 11-14 years from Rs 5 to Rs 9.5 under the Sabla scheme. The scheme targets adolescent girls and provides them nutrition as well as education in life skills.
"The rates were fixed in 2012 but since then the consumer price index has increased. The revision in costs will make it easier for us to provide food as the prices of raw materials have increased," Rakesh Srivastava, Secretary, Women and Child Development Ministry said at a press briefing.