Child Health and Nutrition

Child Health and Nutrition
1.National policy on Child health and nutrition should be formulated with urgency. This must ensure policies and technical interventions follow the overall approach of decentralization, selfreliance
and promotion of food security and local economies. A clear ‘ no conflict of interest’ needs to be demonstrated by any agency that is allowed to work on child health and nutrition
issues.
2. A high-level overseeing mechanism (e.g. empowered steering committee along the lines of the NRHM) should be created to ensure convergence and accountability in the entire range of interventions concerned with child nutrition.
3. Universalization with quality” should be the overarching goal for ICDS in the 11th Plan with adoption the two worker model.
4. 10% of all Anganwadis be converted to Anganwadi-cum-crèches.
5.Centre to retain full financial responsibility for the ICDS with no increase in the fiscal burden to the states.
6.Infant and young child feeding counseling and support should be recognized as one of the core “services” both in ICDS and NRHM, with a clear budget head. Special sub-scheme to give appropriate supplementary nutrition to children in the age group 6 months to 3 years.
7. A phased withdrawal and closure of the pulse polio programme and the reintegration of polio immunization into the Universal Immunization Programme.