India, Dec. 9 -- The December 2, 2020 state order endows Sahyogini Matru Samitis with authority to monitor implementation of ICDS, fix accountability of service provider institutions at local level

The Department of Women and Child Development, Madhya Pradesh - in a one-of-its-kind move - is set to create a decentralised structure under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013, to give a legal backing to community-centric Sahyogini Matru Samiti (SMS) / maternal associate committees.

Numerous studies have proven the urgency of integrated child development services (ICDS) to ensure that elected local body representatives monitor and improvise programmes related to nutrition and maternal entitlement.

It is important to mention that sup...