ICDS helping more than 40 lakh women and children through 69,922 anganwadi centres: CM

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), a visionary scheme to eliminate mother-child mortality and malnutrition, was benefiting more than 40 lakh women and children through 69,922 anganwadis in the State.

He was speaking at an event to celebrate the golden jubilee of the scheme in Karnataka, organised by the Department of Women and Child Development, Empowerment of Differently Abled and Senior Citizens.

‘Highest honorarium’

“The first anganwadi in Karnataka started at Hosahalli village in T. Narasipur taluk and operated in 33 taluks. Currently, 69,922 centres are functioning across the State,” he said.

Terming the service of anganwadi workers and helpers ‘a noble work’, the Chief Minister pointed out that the Karnataka government provides them the highest honorarium in the country.

“Although the ICDS is a Central government programme, the State government provides more funds. If ₹2,700 comes from the Centre, the State government provides ₹8,500,” he said.

‘No shortage of funds’

Mr. Siddaramaiah also added that the implementation of the Shakti and Gruhalakshmi schemes had led to increased women’s participation in work. He said Karnataka is among the States that have effectively implemented the ICDS programme.

Noting that more than ₹1,04,00 crore has been spent on the guarantee schemes, he refuted the oft-repeated claim that there was any shortage of funds for development schemes.

Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar praised the Grihalakshmi Multipurpose Cooperative Society and the Akka Pade scheme introduced by the Women and Child Development Department, terming it a continuation of the legacy of the Congress government which introduced legislations to ban child marriage and dowry.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi criticised that the guarantee schemes cannot be implemented. Today, we are directly depositing money into the accounts of 1.26 crore women. Under the leadership of Mr. Siddaramaiah, three of the five guarantee schemes have directly benefitted women,” he said.