The Hindu : National : `Priority for child health schemes'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jul 07, 2005

National

National

`Priority for child health schemes'

Special Correspondent

Arjun Singh suggests convergence of health programmes

NEW DELHI: Union Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh has emphasised the need for proper planning and effective implementation of child development programmes.

Inaugurating a two-day national consultation on "State Women and Child Development Ministers and secretaries on ICDS Universalisation with Quality,'' he called for formulating a charter of action to ensure that the efforts of the Centre bore fruit. Mr. Singh suggested the convergence of various programmes in the areas of health, education, nutrition, food security and safe drinking water with the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS).

"One has to devise a methodology to ascertain where things were going wrong and where corrective measures were needed.''

The Minister said several new "anganwadi" centres would be sanctioned that would help eliminate malnutrition, impaired development, morbidity and mortality in young children.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister of State for HRD Kanti Singh said the Centre was in the process of sanctioning 467 projects and 1.88 lakh new anganwadi centres that would increase the reach of the scheme to uncovered areas also.

Cecilio Adorna, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) representative called for involving more people with missionary zeal in the programmes meant for child survival and nutrition.

They should keep track of various programmes meant for children, he added.

The meet will deliberate upon ways and means of improving the quality of delivery of services like supplementary nutrition, health check up, pre-school education, nutrition and health education under the ICDS programme.

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