Giving itself discretionary powers on release funds to States under various Central schemes, the Planning Commission has decided to restructure 16 Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) into Additional Central Assistance (ACA) Schemes. The new funding pattern will be effective from 2013-14.

While restructuring the CSSs will give more flexibility to the States to utilise the funds, it will also give the Planning Commission absolute control over the quantity of money to be released. CSS funds are routed through the Ministries, but once the new system is in place as many as 11 ministries will lose monetary control over their ambitious schemes.

With an outlay of Rs 117,707 crore for women and child development, including Rs 108,503 crore for flagship nutrition programme ICDS, the 12th plan document stresses on the need for convergent acti

Unspent funds declared by several State governments across the country released under the Central Government’s Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Schemes has now prompted the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development to consider sanctioning funds directly to non-government organisations working in the States.

Ministry secretary Prem Narain said: “ICDS is one of our flagship programmes and the Ministry is working at ensuring that the targeted audience are able to benefit from its restructuring that we are undertaking.”

On the lines of the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), India will now have a dedicated mission for the implementation of the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) to boost child nutrition a

Being an Indian and below 5 years of age is a rather dangerous prospect right now. The odds seem to be piling up against Indian toddlers — a recent Unicef report has claimed that 16.55 lakh below-5 kids die each year in the nation, leading the world in child mortality.

According to the ‘Child Mortality Estimates Report 2012’, India’s under-five death toll is higher than the deaths in Nigeria, Congo and Pakistan put together. The killer diseases may be many — pneumonia, diarrhea and malaria figure as the top causes of death; but it all boils down to the nutrition of the mothers during pregnancy, and that given to the baby, say experts here.

Medical staff accountability, statewide availability of case history to be ensured.

As many as 74,639 children in the State were identified as severely malnourished during health check-up camps conducted by the Health and Family Welfare department in July-August this year. The department has, however, no record to indicate the status of any of these children. To rectify this major flaw and to bring about accountability among the medical staff of the primary health centres (PHCs) and the nutritional rehabilitation centres (NRCs), the department is in the process of evolving a web-based application, which will help track and monitor the progress of children identified under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) programme.

Bathinda: Anganwari children in the Malwa belt are being supplied drinking water containing carcinogenic and heavy metals as the government has not allocated funds for water treatment plants.

Despite expansion of private and public healthcare services in the city, the number of maternal deaths seem to be on the rise.

As per data collated by the civic body’s public health department, the number of maternal deaths have jumped 13 per cent to 239 in 2011 from 211 in 2010. The maternal mortality rate, which reflects the number of maternal deaths per 1,000 women has gone up to 1.4 in 2011 from 1.1 in 2010. This number was much lower at 0.8 in 2009.

Centre to soon launch website offering health solutions

If nutrition experts have left you confused about what to eat, how much to eat and when to eat, the Union Ministry of Women & Child Development’s soon-to-be-launched website might be your one-stop solution. All set to launch a nutrition platform on September 7, this interactive website will offer a knowledge bank, library and e-forum to those in the business of nutrition and the ones interested in eating right to stay healthy.

Months after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called malnourishment among children a national shame, the Union Ministry of Women & Child Development (WCD) has now written to the Chief Secretaries of all States and Union Territories asking them to get “serious about fighting malnourishment especially among the children and women”.

WCD secretary Prem Narain said: “We have issued written instructions on Tuesday to all senior officials concerned and various Ministries to ensure that they contribute positively in the fight against this great challenge that the country faces today.