Under the Anganwadi Services of Umbrella Integrated Child Development Services scheme, a total number of 14 lakh AnganwadiCentres (AWCs) have been sanctioned to all the States/UTs, out of which as on 01.06.2018, 13.63 lakh AWCs are functioning across the country in which a total number of 8.85 crore beneficiaries are availing benefits.                                    

Children in the age group of 0-6 years, pregnant women and lactating mothers are eligible beneficiaries under the scheme.

 This Ministry has issued directions to all States/UTs to conduct physical verification exercise to identify genuine beneficiaries and weed out duplicate as  well as bogus beneficiaries, if any. 

The Anganwadi Services under Umbrella ICDS Scheme is implemented by States/UTs, the proper administrationof the schemeis the states/UTs prime responsibility.

The above Information was given by Minister of State for Women and Child Development,DR. VIRENDRA KUMAR in reply to an Unstarred Question in the Lok Sabha, today.

NB/PS

******