Allowance for ICDS beneficiaries if anganwadi can't give meal

A food security allowance will be provided to the beneficiaries of the Centre-sponsored ICDS scheme if their anganwadi centre fails to serve them a meal.
As per the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme, every pregnant woman, lactating mother till six months after the child birth and a child in the age group of six months to three years is entitled to take home ration.
Children between three and six years are entitled to morning snacks and a hot cooked meal at the Anganwadi centre.
"In case of non-supply of meal to the beneficiaries in anganwadi centre on any day due to non-availability of food grains or any other reason, the state governments or union territory administrations shall pay food security allowance," a notification of the Ministry of Women and Child Development said.

"Under section 8 of the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013, a beneficiary is entitled to Food Security Allowance if he/she is not provided the food under the NFSA," said a statement issued by the Ministry.
As per the notification, the UT or the state administration concerned will also have to inquire into the complaint of the beneficiary and pay the allowance to the complainant "within one month of decision on it."

It also mandates fixing responsibility on "the person or agency" for the lapse.
As per the ICDS rules, the cost of supplementary nutrition for children between the age of six months and six years has been fixed at Rs 6 and for pregnant and lactating mothers at Rs 7.

The Ministry of Women and Child Development also said they are contemplating cash transfer instead of take home ration for better transparency.
"The government is also exploring the possibility of Conditional Cash Transfer in lieu of Take Home Ration in select districts as a pilot as one of the options," an official statement said.
However, a final decision is yet to be taken on the cash transfer option.
The Centre has already made it mandatory to produce Aadhaar card from April 1, to access ICDS benefits.
It later clarified that "till Aadhaar number is assigned to such individual, the benefit will continue to be given based on alternate means of identification.