Uttar Pradesh Govt Sanctions ₹51.89 Crore Top-Up To Ensure Continuous Nutrition Supply Under ICDS Amid Rising Ingredient Costs

Lucknow: To maintain uninterrupted supplementary nutrition services under the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS), the Uttar Pradesh government has sanctioned ₹51.89 crore under a new "Top-up Arrangement for Supplementary Nutrition Scheme."

The top-up mechanism will address cost escalations arising from increased market rates of ingredients such as chana dal and masoor dal, which have exceeded the Centre’s Cost Norms 2017.

To cover this gap, the state will bear additional expenses beyond the set norms for the third and fourth quarters of FY 2024–25. ₹25.92 crore has been allotted for October–December 2024, and ₹25.97 crore for January–March 2025.

This measure will ensure continuous delivery of nutritious items like fortified wheat, gram dal, and edible oil to eligible beneficiaries through Anganwadi centres.

Beneficiaries include children aged 6 months to 6 years, pregnant and lactating women, and adolescent girls (14–18 years), particularly in malnutrition-prone regions.

To mitigate current supply challenges, nutrition is being procured via NAFED. Should costs or supplies deviate from approved norms, the Chief Minister will identify suitable alternatives.

In parallel, the state is promoting local production through women-led Take-Home Ration (THR) units under the UP Rural Livelihood Mission. A target of 347 units has been set for completion by 2026–27.

The top-up initiative complements this infrastructure development, aiming for consistent nutrition delivery and improved health outcomes statewide.