The Union Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 20 September 2017 approved the proposal for increase of cost norms for supplementary nutrition provided in Anganwadis and for out of school adolescent girls under Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS).
The decision follows the move by the Government to provide cash benefits to pregnant and lactating mothers under the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, and is part of an intensive effort to improve the nutritional status of women and children.
Under the ICDS, children between 6 months to 3 years are entitled to a morning snack as well as a hot-cooked meal at an Anganwadi centre, while pregnant women, lactating mothers and severely malnourished children, who can't walk to the centre, are entitled to take home ration.
The revised Supplementary Nutrition cost norms, as approved by the Government are as under:
| S.No. | Category | Existing Rate Rs./day/beneficiary | Revised Rates Rs./day/beneficiary |
| 1 | Children (6-72 months) | Rs.6.00 | Rs.8.00 |
| 2 | Pregnant Women & Lactating Mothers (PW&LM) | Rs.7.00 | Rs.9.50 |
| 3 | Severely Malnourished | Rs.9.00 | Rs.12.00 |
| 4 | Adolescent Girls (11-14 years out of school) | Rs.5.00 | Rs.9.50 |
The revision of cost norms will involve an additional investment of Rs.9900 Cr for beneficiaries of Aanganwadi Services and Rs 2267.18 Cr for beneficiaries of Scheme for Adolescent Girls for a period from 2017-18 to 2019-20.
The move would impact the health and nutritional status of about 11 Cr beneficiaries per year.
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