The state government has set a target of setting up 500 Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) centres in tribal areas across the state.
The state Tribal Development department has taken up a project to set up ICDS centres in areas that are dominated with tribal population. In 2016-17, the state government had set up 396 ICDS centres at different areas and in 2017-18 fiscal, a target has been set to construct 500 similar buildings where ICDS centres will be run. In the current fiscal, the process to start construction work of 190 buildings, where ICDS
centres will be run, has already been started.
It may be mentioned that there was no proper space in tribal areas in the state where ICDS centres could run. In such a situation, Chief Minister Mamata banerjee had taken up the project to construct buildings where ICDS centres could be run properly.
All the buildings of the ICDS centres under this project are being constructed following one particular model plan that was passed by the Chief Minister.
Usually, in urban and other parts of the state, ICDS centres are being run in buildings of local clubs from where nutritional foods are given to children and pregnant women.
The Tribal Development department had identified the locations where setting up of buildings to run ICDS centres was of utmost importance. Moreover, the buildings are having all sorts of facilities including toilets. Cartoons were painted on the interior walls of ICDS centres to give a feel good factor to children.
Such IDCS centres have been constructed in districts including Alipurduar, North and South 24-Parganas. Moreover, integrated tribal development agencies have been started in six districts including South Dinajpur, Bankura, Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri, East Midnapore and Purulia to ensure proper dissemination of benefits among the tribal populace till the grassroot level.