A Study on Supplementary Nutrition Ration for Children Under ICDS in Rural Punjab

Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) which has been operating in the all districts of Punjab for decades. The present study based on primary and secondary sources of information was carried out to evaluate the supplementary nutrition ration components of Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) in Mansa district of Punjab by selecting all the ICDS projects in the district. The results revealed that the availability of supplementary nutrition ration for the children at AWCs was not satisfactory. The proper implementation of the scheme was impeded by many constraints such as non-availability of SN ration at the Anganwadi centres, lack of knowledge about the benefits of SN ration, lack of facilities such as water, space, light etc. at AWCs. The government should issue necessary instructions to concerned agencies for regular supply of supplementary nutrition and must also look into the reasons for such disruption in each case and should initiate necessary actions required in the given situation.