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The proposal for revision of cost norms with annual cost indexation for Supplementary Nutrition (SN) for the beneficiaries of Anganwadi Services and Adolescent Girls (out of school 11-14 years) under the Umbrella ICDS Scheme has been approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by the prime minister.
In the next three years government is planning to invest an additional Rs 12,000 crore for the nutrition of pregnant and lactating women, children in the age group of 0-6 years, and out of school adolescent girls.
This addresses a long standing anomaly and ensures that the changes in norms keeps pace with changes in costs on an annual basis.
The revised supplementary nutrition Cost norms for the beneficiaries of children has been revised to Rs 8 from Rs 6.
In case of pregnant women & lactating mothers it has been revised to Rs 9.50 from Rs 7.
There is also a revision in cost norms for nutrition provided to severely malnourished from Rs 9 to Rs 12. In case of adolescent girls (11-14 years) it has been revised to Rs 9.50 from Rs 5.
This follows the decision 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.