Late submission of APIP affecting ICDS implementation: Centre

The Centre today said the failure of the state governments in the north-east region to submit their Annual Plan Implementation Programme (APIP) was a matter of concern affecting the smooth implementation of the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS).
The Centre directed all the states in the region to submit their Annual Plan Implementation Programme (APIP) within a stipulated time frame fixed for the effective and proper implementation of the ICDS in the region.
"We have requested the state governments to submit their APIP for early release of funds required for the smooth implementation of the ICDS programmes in the region," Deputy Secretary incharge of ICDS, Gulshan Lal, said here.

Lal was addressing the 'Regional Orientation & Information Dissemination Conference on Restructured ICDS scheme' for Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura held here.
He said that the restructuring and strengthening of ICDS would be made effective in all the districts by April this year.
He further urged the participating states to list all the necessary actions needed to be taken so far as improving implementation mechanism of the scheme is concerned.
Stating that during the last 37 years, the implementation of the scheme had faced many challenges, he said, "We have decided to put all the problems in one place by introducing the Restructured program of the scheme".

ICDS is a government initiative aimed at tackling malnutrition and health problems in children below 6 years of age and their mothers.