Dikshit to investigate ICDS scheme (IANS IMPACT)

June 21st, 2011 - 4:54 pm ICT by IANS  

New Delhi, June 21 (IANS) A day after IANS reported that 775 children and eight pregnant women enrolled in the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme here died last year, Delhi’s Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit Tuesday said the matter will be probed.

“I got to know the figures. We will be doing a proper investigation into this,” Dikshit told reporters.

In a reply to an application under the Right to Information (RTI) Act filed by child rights activist Manish Bhatnagar, an ICDS official said: “According to records, the number of children enrolled in the ICDS scheme who died in Delhi last year was 775.”

“Eight pregnant women enrolled also died last year,” he added.

The ICDS is a pilot project of the Delhi government’s women and child development department aimed at improving nutritional and health status of children below six years and reduce the incidence of mortality, morbidity and malnutrition.

“In 2009, seven pregnant women and 882 children enrolled with the ICDS died,” the official said.

ICDS services were started in India with 33 projects all over the country Oct 2, 1975. It was launched in response to the challenge of meeting the holistic need of the child.

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