THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The functioning of the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), a flagship project of the Department of Social Welfare that caters to the health, educational and nutritional aspects of over 10 lakh children and five lakh women in the State, is heading for a crisis.

According to a senior official of the department, the State Government is yet to sanction any replacements for the existing team of ICDS staff members who will complete their tenure by the end of July.

The 33-member staff, headed by an additional director, which co-ordinates the State-level activities of the project from its head quarters in Poojappura, was appointed by the Central Government for a period of five years in 2001.

However it is the responsibility of the State Government to ensure its continuation by conducting fresh appointments, points out the senior official.

The lack of new appointments will eventually lead to the drying up of the Central Government fund for the projects. This also creates an air of uncertainty over the plight of nearly 50,000 Anganwadi workers and helpers who are directly associated with the project in the State. In addition to the ICDS project also looks after the functioning of Balika Samridhi Yojana, a scheme intended for the welfare of nearly 4 lakh girls from families below the poverty line, national nutrition mission, Kishori Shakti Yojana, a project for adolescent girls, integrated women empowerment programme and modernisation in government.

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