Not to be published/broadcast before 25th August, 2008

                  The Integrated Child Development Services Scheme is the largest programme, which focuses upon maternal and child health and nutrition, not only in India but the whole world. The programme is being implemented successfully and benefiting the target groups in Himachal Pradesh.
                 The largest national programme for the development of mothers and children, which was introduced initially in only one block in the tribal district of Kinnaur, is now being vigorously implemented in all the 75 Child Development Blocks of the State besides one project in Shimla town. The State Government during the current year on various components of the scheme, which would benefit about 5.33 lakh women and children of the state, would spend a sum of Rs. 64.65 crore.
                The scheme envisages supplementary nutrition, pre-school education, immunization, health check-ups, referral services and health education. Services under the programme are coordinated at village, block, district and state levels. The programme seeks effective convergence of inter-sectoral services through community based anganwari workers and helpers, supportive community structures and self-help groups through anganwadi centres. The primary responsibility for the implementation of the programme lies with the Social Justice and Empowerment Department of the State Government and the beneficiaries are children below six years, pregnant and lactating women and women in the age group of 15 to 44 years.
                 It was launched for the purpose of improving the nutritional and health status of children, in the age group of 0-6 years besides laying the foundation for their proper psychological, physical and social development. The scheme aims at reducing the incidence of mortality, morbidity, mal-nutrition and school dropout to achieve effective coordinated policy and its implementation amongst the various departments to promote child development. One of its objectives is to enhance the capability of mothers in looking after the normal health and nutritional needs of children through proper education.
                In Himachal Pradesh there are as many as 76 ICDS Projects, out of which, 68 are rural projects, one urban project and remaining 7 are tribal projects besides one project, which is being run by an NGO at Gagret in Una District. These are fully operationalized and serving the target groups through as many as 18248 anganwari centres equipped with a staff of 37000 persons across the State. In order to strengthen the infrastructure for successful implementation of the project, each anganwadi centre has one anganwadi worker and one helper who are selected from the local community. Workers are imparted requisite training at institutional level followed by refresher courses to enable them to discharge the assigned responsibilities effectively.
              With a view to provide supplementary nutrition, cooked food is provided to the children in the age group of 2-6 years, expectant and lactating mothers and adolescent girls. Supplementary Nutrition Programme envisages provision of 300 calories and 8-10 grams of protein to the children and 500 calories and 20-25 grams of protein to the lactating mothers, pregnant ladies and adolescent girls. Severely malnourished children are given double diet as compared to a normal child. A sum of Rs. 22 crore would be spent during the current year under the programme and supplementary nutrition is being given to about 4, 28,000 children, 96000 expectant and lactating mothers and 88,000 adolescent girls at present in the State.
              Health Education Programme is also organized in project areas as a special campaign and through home visits by anganwadi workers to all women in the age group of 15 to 45 years.
                Immunization services are provided to all children below six years of age, who are immunized against six deadly diseases like tuberculosis, diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, polio and measles. Medicine kits are provided annually @ Rs.600/- to each anganwadi centre. Serious cases of mal-nutrition and illness are referred to appropriate health institutions and follow-up is also done in Referral Services.
              In Non-formal Pre-school Education Services, children between three to five years of age group are provided stimulation by organizing creative activities in the anganwadis in such a way that the aim of developing desirable attitude, values and behaviour pattern is achieved. Pre-school education kits       @ Rs. 500 are provided to each anganwadi centre every year. Non-Formal Pre-School Education is being provided to about 1,64,000 children through the anganwadi centres across the state.