Only 7 in 100 anganwadi beneficiaries are in cities

News:According to Right to Information(RTI) query,for every 100 anganwadi beneficiaries in the country,only seven are in urban areas.

Facts:

  • There are a total of 7.95 crore beneficiaries of the anganwadi scheme in the country as on September 30,2019.
  • However,only 55 lakh were registered at urban anganwadis.This is because of an acute paucity of anganwadi centres in urban areas.

About Anganwadis:

  • Anganwadi Centres are a type of child and mother care centre in India. They were set up as a part of the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme.
  • They provide six types of services which include supplementary nutrition; pre-school non-formal education; immunisation, nutrition and health education and referral services.
  • The beneficiaries under the Scheme are children in the age group of 0-6 years, pregnant women and lactating mothers.

About ICDS:

  • Integrated Child Development Services(ICDS) is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme launched in 1975 by the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
  • Aim:Holistic development of under-six children and providing nutritional and health support to pregnant and lactating mothers.