(EGS) across the country. For primary students-300 calories and 8-12 gm protein and for upper primary students-700 calories and 20 gm protein has been kept as norm.

3.3.3. Critical Appraisal of ICDS and MDM

India’s one of the biggest flagship programs, the Rs 8,000 crore-a-year Supplementary Nutrition Program (SNP) to fight child malnourishment under ICDS suffers from gross violations and misuse of rules and has failed in meeting its ends.

1. Due to meager allocation of resources and faulty policy designs, the overall impact of ICDS and MDM over malnutrition has remained very limited.

2. The states with high degree of malnutrition, have low coverage of both the schemes.

3. Poor quality of nutrient deficient meal is being served at most of the schools.

4. ICDS has limited itself with just one function of Supplementary Nutritional Program (SNP) and is not concerned about other functions. Also, it focuses on children 3-6 years of age, so, 0-3 years (when maximum nutrition is required) old suffer neglect.

5. Since food is nutrition deficient in ICDS as well, children are facing the problem of hidden hunger i.e. prevalence of Iodine, calcium, iron or Vitamin A deficiency.

6. Child Immunization and pre-school education is neglected under ICDS, except in Tamil Nadu (FOCUS report).

7. ICDS is poorly implemented. Also, several posts such as of CDPO and supervisors remain vacant in many states.

8. FOCUS reports (Focus on Children Under Six Report by Right To Food Campaign NGO) show that corruption is the main reason for failure of ICDS and MDM in removing malnutrition. It was found that ‘panjiri’ (ready-to-eat energy mix) meant for children is being used illegally to feed the cattle of rich and influential in Uttar Pradesh. Rampant corruption, fudged records and bland panjiri has become the reality of ICDS.

9. MDM is falling prey to private contractors. Also, political leaders and influential business people have formed SHGs and mahila mandals to gain such contracts.