PUNJAB committed for holistic child development

Chandigarh, February 15, 2013: A regional conference on orientation and information dissemination on restructured Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme today held at Chandigarh.

The conference was organized by Ministry of Women and Child Development,GOI in collaboration with the Department of Women and Child Development, Punjab. Delegates from Six states participated in this Regional Conference.

Dr. Shreeranjan IAS, Joint Secretary to GOI formally inaugurated the conference.

In his keynote address Dr. Shreeranjan said that the Government of India committed for the integrated and holistic child development across the county. He said that GOI has framed a comprehensive policy for the restructuring and strengthening of Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) centers and all ICDS in the country would be restructured over 3 year in phased manner. Dr.Shreeranjan urged the participating states to involve community, other Ministries and Social Organisations for better and effective implementation of ICDS scheme. The participating states were Chandigarh (UT), Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana and Punjab.

Earlier Hussan Lal, Secretary, Department of Women and Child Development, Punjab welcomed Shreeranjan and the delegated form other states. Throwing light on the ICDS scheme he said that the motive of ICDS scheme is to provide six basic services comprising of Supplementary Nutrition, Immunisation, and Health Check ups, Referral Services, Pre-school non formal education and Nutrition and Health Education to the children. He said that the state of Punjab is implementing the programme in effective way so as to ensure the holistic, physical, psychological, cognitive and emotional development of young children under 6 years age.

Dr. Shreeranjan during his addressed disclosed that the GOI has revised the cost norms for supplementary nutrition programme considering the price escalation. He said that ICDS would be implemented in mission mode with National Mission Directorate and National Mission Resource Centre which would be operational from the  1st year of 12th five year plan as per.

Gurkirat Kirpal Singh, Director, Women and Child Development, Punjab delivered vote of thanks.

Prominent amongst others who were attended the conference included A.K. Goyal, Senior Programmer from ministry of Women and Child Development, New Delhi, S.K. Srivastva, Additional Director, NIPCCD New Delhi and delegates from six states.