Programmes and Schemes

The Ministry of Women and Child Development (External website that opens in a new window) has come up with several schemes deciding the norms of child nutrition. These are:

• National Guidelines on Infants and Young Child Feeding(150 KB) (PDf file that opens in a new window): these guidelines emphasize the importance of breast feeding. Breast feeding must commence immediately after birth and continue exclusively for six months before other forms of milk are introduced. Appropriate and adequate complementary feeding must commence there after and breast-feeding can continue for up to two years.
• National Nutrition Policy(8.2 MB) (PDF file that opens in a new window): was adopted by the Government of India in 1993 under the aegis of the Department of Women and Child Development. It advocated a multi-sectoral strategy for eradicating malnutrition and achieving optimum nutrition for all. The policy advocates the monitoring the nutrition levels across the country and sensitising government machinery on the need for good nutrition and prevention of malnutrition. The National Nutrition Policy also includes the Food and Nutrition Board, which develops posters, audio jingles and video spots for disseminating correct facts about breastfeeding and complementary feeding.
• The Integrated Child Development Services Scheme (External website that opens in a new window): is one of the most comprehensive schemes on child development in the country and perhaps in the world. The Ministry of Women and Child Development (External website that opens in a new window) has been running the scheme since 1975 in pursuance of the National Policy for Children (External website that opens in a new window). It aims at providing services to pre-school children in an integrated manner so as to ensure proper growth and development of children in rural, tribal and slum areas. This centrally sponsored scheme also monitors nutrition of children.
• Udisha (External website that opens in a new window): in Sanskrit means the first rays of the new dawn. It is a nationwide training component of the World Bank (External website that opens in a new window) assisted Women and Child Development Project (External website that opens in a new window). Udisha has been cleared with an outlay of about Rs 600 crores for five years. UNICEF is also a technical collaborator in the Project. The programmes aims to train child care workers across the country. Its scope reaches as far are remote villages.
  • Training Programmes under Udisha (External website that opens in a new window)
  • The Udisha Team (External website that opens in a new window)
  • Udisha at the State level (External website that opens in a new window)
• National Policy for Children (External website that opens in a new window) lays down that the State shall provide adequate services towards children, both before and after birth and during the growing stages for their full physical, mental and social development.
• National Charter for Children emphasizes Government of India's commitment to children's rights to survival, health and nutrition, standard of living, play and leisure, early childhood care, education, protection of the girl child, empowering adolescents, equality, life and liberty, name and nationality, freedom of expression, freedom of association and peaceful assembly, the right to a family and the right to be protected from economic exploitation and all forms of abuse.
• National Plan of Action for Children (External website that opens in a new window) includes goals, objectives, strategies and activities for improving the nutritional status of children, reducing Infant Mortality Rate, increasing enrolment ratio, reducing drop out rates, universalisation of primary education and increasing coverage for immunization.
• Other Schemes Include:
  • Balika Samriddhi  Yojana (BSY) (External website that opens in a new window)
  • Kishori Shakti Yojana (KSY) (External website that opens in a new window)
  • Nutrition Programme for Adolescent Girls (NPAG) (External website that opens in a new window)
  • Early Childhood Education for 3-6 Age Group Children Under the Programme of Universalization of Elementary Education (External website that opens in a new window)
  • Scheme for welfare of Working Children in need of Care and Protection (External website that opens in a new window)
  • An Integrated Programme for Street Children (External website that opens in a new window)
  • Child line Services (External website that opens in a new window)
  • Central Adoption Resource Agency (CARA) (External website that opens in a new window)
  • Rajiv Gandhi National Crèche Scheme For the Children of Working Mothers(76 KB) (PDF file that opens in a new window)
  • Programme for Juvenile Justice (External website that opens in a new window)
  • General Grant-in-Aid Scheme (External website that opens in a new window)
  • Pilot Project to Combat the Trafficking of Women and Children for Commercial Sexual Exploitation in Destination Areas (External website that opens in a new window)
  • Mid-day Meal Scheme (External website that opens in a new window)
  • National Crèche Fund (External website that opens in a new window)

Source: National Portal Content Management Team, Reviewed on:25-01-2010