Chapter: Gist of Press Information Bureau Articles

Topic: Women and Children Welfare Schemes: Breaking New Frontiers

The Ministry of Women and Child Development has taken the giant and vital steps towards launching two new schemes.

Q.  SABLA?

Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls (SABLA) has to address the multidimensional issues of the adolescent girls in the age group of 11-18 years. Initially the programme will be implemented in 200 districts across the country.

The Rajiv Gandhi SABLA was launched on November 19, 2010. The Anganwadi centres will be the focal point for the delivery of the services and are meant to implement through States and UT’s with 100 per cent financial assistance from the Government at the center. SABLA aims at empowering adolescent girls for 11-18 years by improvement in their nutritional and health status and upgrading home skills, life skills and vocational skills.

Q. Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojana (IGMSY)?

• Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojana (IGMSY) is a conditional Maternity scheme. Initially to be implemented in 52 districts, the scheme aims to improve the health and nutrition status of pregnant and lactating women. The scheme will also create opportunities for pregnant women to associate themselves with the Anganwadis and the health centres. 

• The essential objectives of the scheme are to improve the health and nutrition status of pregnant and lactating women and the infants.

• Pregnant women of 19 years of age and above for first two live births are entitled for benefits under the scheme.

• The beneficiaries will be paid Rs 4000 in three installments till the child attains the age of six months on fulfilling specific conditions related to maternal and child health.

• The scheme also makes its clear that the Anganwadi worker and Anganwadi helper would receive an incentive of Rs 200 and Rs 100 respectively per pregnant and lactating woman after all the due cash transfers to the beneficiary are complete.

Q. Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS)?

Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) is the flagship programme, which was launched in 1975 with the principal objectives to improve the nutritional and health status of children in the age group of 0-6 years.

The scheme among other things also aims to enhance the capability of the mother of a child to look after the normal health and nutritional needs of the child through proper nutrition and health education.

ICDS ensures convergence between the Ministries of Women and Child Development and Health, Sanitation and drinking water, Rural Development and the Department of Elementary Education.

In 2009, the Government brought in a few changes in the funding pattern and decided to introduce the concept of cost sharing ratio between the centre and the state with effect from 1st April, 2009. It would be 90:10 basis for all the North Eastern States and 50: 50 basis for other states. In the recent times there has been also a significant increase in the Central Government’s spending on the implementation of the scheme.

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