Now, cash transfers may replace take-home rations provided in anganwadis to infants under three years of age and lactating mothers, according to a new proposal to be put forth by the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
Along with the newly proposed cash transfer, the ministry is also looking to increase the daily entitlement under the supplementary nutrition scheme marginally. The proposed revised rates stand at Rs 8 per day for a child, Rs 9.30 for a pregnant and lactating woman, and Rs 12 for a severely malnourished woman.
According to a report in the Indian Express, the cash transfer scheme will be taken up on a pilot basis, and will subsequently spread through the country in a phased manner.
In the first phase, we will cover 300 of the most backward districts where, as per data, the extent of malnutrition and stunting of children is the highest. This will be followed by the remaining districts a year later.Ministry official to the Indian Express
Around 6.5 crore people benefit from the Integrated Child Development Services Scheme – including 4.6 crore children and 1.9 crore mothers.
The ministry official also told the daily that children between the ages of 3-6 years will continue to be provided with cooked meals in the anganwadis as per usual.
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