Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Sarveen Chaudhary demands compensation from the Central Government of Rs. 68.83 crore spent under Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) during last two years. She was speaking in a conference of Ministers and Secretaries of various States at New Delhi today.
Minister urges the Centre to provide cent percent Central grant under ICDS to Himachal Pradesh as is being provided to North Eastern States and Jammu and Kashmir. She further requested the Central Government to provide financial assistance for the construction of Anganwadi Bhawans and added that State Government was ready to provide 25 percent for the same.
Social Justice and Empowerment Minister said that Sabla Yojna will be implemented in Kangra, Kullu, Solan and Chamba districts and Indira Gandhi Matritav Sahyog Yojna in Hamirpur district. She said that levels of malnutrition had effectively been reduced in the State. Accordingly to the survey National Health Family, a reduction of five percent was reported in the State against one percent at the National level. Chaudhary said that savings of Rs. 56.39 crore had been made by 28,608 registered Self Help Groups in the State. A loan of Rs. 88.44 crore was disbursed by different banks to these Self Help Groups.
Stressing upon the need of having an additional project each for Mandi Sadar, Paonta Sabha and Nalagarh Development Blocks, She said that population in each blocks had exceeded two lakh and more than 450 Anganwari Centres were working in each project. Expressing satisfaction over the improved sex ratio in the State, She said that female population had increased from 49.19 percent in year 2001 to 49.33 percent in 2011.
