For better implementation and efficient monitoring, all schemes implemented by the Ministry for the betterment of children have been clubbed into three verticals, Saksham Anganwadi Poshan 2.0 (for improving nutrition and health indicators in the country), Mission Shakti (for safety, protection and empowerment of women) and Mission Vatsalya (for protection, care and welfare of children in difficult circumstances).as details of the schemes given therein:
- Saksham Anganwadi & Poshan 2.0 (Mission Poshan 2.0): Under this programme, Anganwadi Services Scheme, POSHAN Abhiyaan and Scheme for Adolescent Girls have been reorganized into 3 primary sub-verticals: (i) Nutrition Support for POSHAN and for Adolescent Girls (ii) Early Childhood Care and Education [3-6 years] and (iii) Anganwadi Infrastructure including modern, upgraded Saksham Anganwadis.
- Mission Shakti: Mission Shakti comprises of two sub-verticals, i.e., ‘Sambal’ for safety and security of women and ‘Samarthya’ for empowerment of women. The existing schemes of One Stop Centres (OSC), Women Helpline (181-WHL) and Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) have been made part of Sambal sub-vertical; while the existing schemes of Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), Ujjwala, Swadhar Greh (renamed as Shakti Sadan) and Working Women Hostel (renamed as Sakhi Niwas), National Hub for Empowerment of Women (NHEW) and National Creche Scheme (renamed as Palna) have been subsumed in the ‘Samarthya’ sub-vertical.
- Mission Vatsalya: Mission Vatsalya has subsumed the Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) for better outreach and protection for children in need and care in a mission mode with the objective to: (i) Support and sustain Children in difficult circumstances. (ii) Develop context-based solutions for holistic development of children from varied backgrounds. (iii) Provide scope for green field projects for encouraging innovative solutions. (iv) Cement convergent action by gap funding, if required.
The criteria, rules & regulations and Standard Operating Procedure for implementing the aforesaid schemes have been circulated to all States/UTs and the same have also been placed on the website of the Ministry i.e. www.wcd.nic.in .
Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme is not implemented in State of West Bengal. Regular correspondence and constant review meetings/ VCs through sustained engagement are done with the State Government for implementation of this scheme.
Under POSHAN Abhiyaan scheme, fortified rice is supplied to Anganwadi Centres to meet the requirement of micronutrients and control anaemia among the children. Greater emphasis is being given on the use of millets for preparation of Hot Cooked Meal at least once a week and Take Home Ration (THR – not raw ration) at Anganwadi centers for beneficiaries.
This information was given by the Minister of Women and Child Development Smt. Annapurna Devi in the Lok Sabha in reply to a question today.
