Another scheme after Indira
Defying the directive issued by Cabinet Secretary K.M. Chandrasekhar suggesting ministries to avoid using names of top national leaders while announcing welfare programmes, the government on Wednesday approved a new scheme named after former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi for expectant and lactating mothers.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved the implementation of the Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojana targeted at improving the health of expectant mothers and ensuring proper nutrition for newborns.
When asked to comment on whether the nodal ministry ignored Mr Chandrasekhar’s directive while naming the scheme after Indira Gandhi’s name, Union home minister P. Chidambram, who came for the CCEA briefing, said, “May be this was named before the Cabinet Secretary’s circular. The Cabinet has approved it, the Cabinet has endorsed the naming of the scheme after Indira Gandhiji.”
Moreover, the new scheme, which was approved on Wednesday, aims to check rampant under-nutrition and anaemia among women and children.
The scheme will be run with a cost of `1000 crores for the remaining period of the 11th Plan (2007-12). The scheme will be implemented on a pilot basis in 52 select districts.
The scheme will be implemented by using the infrastructure, personnel, systems and structures of ICDS, including support of health systems along with the additional personnel on contractual basis as approved in the scheme.
This will be a centrally-sponsored scheme with 100 per cent assistance from the Centre. Accordingly, `390 crores and `610 crores have been allocated for 2010-11 and 2011-12 respectively, Mr Chidambram informed.
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