New Delhi/Jammu, January 28 (Scoop News) – Seeking support from the Centre for improving delivery mechanism in implementing welfare schemes in the State, the Minister for Social Welfare, Ms Sakina Itoo has demanded allocation of funds under Integrated Child Development Service Schemes (ICDS) on the pattern of Northern Eastern States as Jammu and Kashmir is also confronting similar problems as that of North Eastern region.
She was speaking at a Social Welfare Ministers’ Conference here at Vigyan Bhawan today.
The Minister said the existing pattern of funding of ICDS which is 90:10 ratio in respect of ICDS(General) and 50:50 ratio in respect of ICDS (Nutrition) need to be changed to 100% and 90: 10 respectively on the pattern of North Eastern States as problems in both are of similar nature. This, she said, would greatly help in bringing all the targeted population under welfare schemes.
She said that State Government has met the targets set under various welfare schemes despite passing through a difficult phase for quite some time.
Sakina said, at present, 9 lakh beneficiaries are getting nutrition under Supplementary Nutrition Scheme in the State, adding that a detailed action plan has been formulated in coordination with the State health Department to improve the nutrition service for children. She said under this plan the Block Medical Officers have been asked to adopt all the schools in their respective jurisdictions for monitoring of various health indicators of the children in the State.
The Minister said the medical officers have been asked to identify the children suffering from mal-nutrition, under weight and treat them as per their specific requirements, besides educating school going children about proper personal hygiene.
Ms Sakina said Mahila Madals have been framed in 20,941 Anganwari Centres for effective implementation of ICDS by ensuring active community participation, apart from installing weighing scales to monitor growth of children in 14,232 Anganwari Centres (AWCs).
The Minister said that preliminary survey for implementation of SABLA has been completed in five district two each in Kashmir and Jammu divisions and one in Leh. She said a detailed project report of Rs. 40.60 crore has been formulated under Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ACPS), adding the MoU would be signed shortly to implement the scheme in the State.
Ms Sakina said 5924 AWCs , under the scheme “Anganwari Centre on Demand” has been submitted and demanded approval of the proposal to achieve the goal of universalization of IDCS. She also demanded funds for construction of government buildings for remaining 28,000 Anganwari Centres to improve the quality of work and functioning of the Anganwari Centres.