1. Issues , challenges and way forward in implementation of ICDS in Tea Gardens of Assam

2. Assam – at a glance Area (in sq.kms.) 78438 sq. K.M.
Population Census 2011
3,12,05,576
Male
1,59,39,443
Female
1,52,66,133
Scheduled Tribes
38,84,371
Scheduled Castes 
22,31,321
Population (0-6 Years)
Total ICDS Projects
230
Populated villages
26395
Gram Panchayats
2202
Literacy
72.19
77.85
66.25
Density of Population
398
Sex Ratio
958
Child Sex Ratio
962 2

3. ICDS Services ICDS Beneficiaries Non formal Preschool Education
Immunization
Health checkups
Referral service
Supplementary Nutrition Programme
Health and Nutrition Education (under the proposed ICDS Mission Mode, these services would be clubbed in to four core services).
ICDS Beneficiaries
Children 0-6 Years
Pregnant Women and Lactating mothers.
Women aged years

4. TEA GROWING DISTRICTS OF ASSAM

5. Nos. of Tea Gardens ( Statistical Hand Book, Assam, 2013)
Small Growers
1. Upto hector
64597 Nos.
Big Growers
2. Above hector
765 Nos.
3. Area covered
i. Small Growers
88674 Hect.
4. Big Growers
Hect.

6. Issues & Challanges
Poor food habits/ Alcohol & non smoked tobacco users.
Lack of knowledge on proper diet & nutrition
Lack of knowledge on IYCF practices
Child care
Religious myths and beliefs
Low literacy percentage / school drop out
Early marriage
Subsistence economy and habit of savings
Open defecation
Leads to :
Malnourishment
Anaemia
Stunting
High IMR & MMR

7. % to district population
Interventions
District wise (%) of 0-6 children & nos. of Anganwadi Centres in the tea garden areas
Sl No.
Name of District
0-6 population
% to district population
No. of AWC’s in
Tea Garden area 1
Kamrup(M)
125386
10.00 31 2
Goalpara
171657
17.03 5 3
Baksa
122872
12.93 17 4
Kokrajhar
136924
15.43 35
Dhubri
368262
18.89 18 6
Bongaigaon
116392
15.75 7
Sonitpur
277862
14.44
401 8
Darrang
156408
16.85 16 9
Udalguri
113274
13.62
163 10
Dhemaji
104247
15.19 11
Lakhimpur
156739
15.04 93 12
Nagaon
459940
16.29
251 13
Morigaon
163819
17.11 14
Jorhat
124594
11.41
302 15
Golaghat
134793
12.63
411
Dibrugarh
163210
12.31
354
Tinsukia
181826
13.69
430
Sivsagar
139380
12.11
312 19
Cachar
256774
14.79
301 20
Hailakandi
111278
16.88
221 21
Karimganj
211960
17.25
103 22
Dima-Hassao
32414
15.14 23
Karbi-Anglong
151681
15.86
Total
14.86
3493

8. Besides these already functioning AWCs, 100 additional AWCs in Dibrugarh, Sivsagar and Golaghat districts have been proposed to the Govt. of India through State Govt. exclusively for the tea garden areas. Moreover, nos. of AWCs covering all areas (including tea gardens) had already been submitted for approval to the Govt. of India.

9. Way forward
Establishment of AWCs in all uncovered areas of tea garden.
Involvement of management & community from tea garden area in AWCMC.
100% growth monitoring of all children upto 5 years.
Counselling of mothers on IYCF and MCP Card
Regular Home visit
Sneha shivir in all tea garden areas
VHND at AWCs in tea garden areas
Bal Swaccha Mission for personal health and hygiene

10. Way forward Adolescent Health Club
Organising WIFS Day and biannual deworming for out of school adolescent girls (10-19 years)
Regular capacity building of mothers/adolescent girls
Water, sanitation, life skill education, early marriage
Management’s contribution for AWC cum Creche & ownership
Land for construction of Anganwadi Centres / Kitchen Garden
Convergence of Tea Garden Medical Unit for maternal and child health care.

11. THANK YOU