With a view to improving the health and nutritional status of children in the age group of 0-6 years, pregnant women and lactating mothers, the Supplementary Nutrition Programme has been included as one of the most important components of the ICDS programme. Malnutrition, endemic poverty and low household incomes over the years have resulted in poor nutritional status of the population in these households resulting in food distress and food insecurity. Food insecurity impacts some more adversely. When families and people suffer, children and women suffer most due to their greater vulnerability and higher biological need for nutritional protection and security. Growing infants and children, adolescent girls, pregnant women and nursing mothers face far greater risk from the nutritional depletion than others. This nutritional insecurity pre-eminently of pregnant and nursing women and children in the formative years is addressed through the Supplementary Nutrition Programme. Malnutrition impairs physical and mental development and hence providing nutritional support to children in the vulnerable age group is essential to prevent the onset of malnutrition and growth faltering in the formative years. With a view to reducing morbidity and mortality among the vulnerable sections of the population, the Supplementary Nutrition Programme through the ICDS scheme has proved to be one of the most important food--based interventions in the State.
      
 Under the scheme, Supplementary Nutrition is provided to needy children and to expectant / nursing mothers from low income families for a period of 300 days a year. The aim is to supplement the daily nutritional intake by 300 Calories and 8-10 gms of protein for children and 500 Calories and 20 –25 gms of protein for expectant and nursing women. Severely malnourished children, in grade III and IV as per ICDS classification are provided with an additional dose of SNP. This intervention aims only at supplementing and not substituting the family food. Through this, an important contact point is established with the pregnant women and nursing mothers to educate them about the nutritional needs and care of pregnant women, care of the newborn and young children. Key messages are given to them relating to exclusive breast feeding up to 6 months of age, continued breast feeding up to 2 years of age, introducing timely complementary feeding at home for infants between 6-9 months of age with a full diet for young children by one year.  Further, pregnant women and nursing mothers are provided counseling with regard to certain key services such as ante-natal care, post-natal care, iron supplementation and improved care during pregnancy, timely immunization and special care for children in the age group of 0-3 years for improved childcare and feeding practices.

The Supplementary Nutrition Programme is being carried on in 34201 functioning AWCs covering 3106003 beneficiaries. The State Government provides nutritional support to 1983217 beneficiaries in 19 districts through 222 ICDS Projects covering 23838 number of Anganwadi Centres. World Food Programme (WFP) are providing food assistance to 1122786 beneficiaries in 11 districts covering 104 Projects through 10363 number of AWCs. In the case of WFP foodstuff, (Indiamix) supplied in 3 districts namely Koraput, Nawarangpur and Malkangiri. The State Govt. bears only the cost of wheat and the transportation cost from the factory point right upto the Anganwadi Centre point. Similarly in case of Orimix supplied in 8 KBK districts namely Rayagada, Bolangir, Sonepur, Kalahandi  Nuapada, Kandhamal, Boudh and Gajapati. State Govt. bears the entire cost except the cost of bag, fortificants & quality control which is borne by WFP @ Rs. 920/- per each MTs of Orimix. Besides, CARE’s administrative charges are also met by the State Government for supply of R.V.Oil only to 9,65,000 beneficiaries of 9 districts namely Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Gajapati, Kandhamal, Boudh, Rayagada, Kalahandi. Nuapada and Bolangir as an addition dose over and above the Supplementary Nutrition Programme run by the State Government.

After discontinuance of assistance under PMGY (NTN) during 2005-06, Govt. of India  extended support to beer 50% expenditure under SNP under centrally Sponsored Plan.
The coverage of beneficiaries under the scheme and other details as on 1.04.06.

As per interim direction of Hon’ble Supreme Court in write petition case no. -196/2001 (PUCL vrs. Union of India & Others) Govt. of India has revised the ration cost as follows and directed State Govt. to revise accordingly. Similarly in the above mentioned case Hon’ble Supreme Court has directed that BPL shall not be considered as an eligibility criteria, in other wards all beneficiaries will be covered under SNP. As per the direction State Govt. is taking steps to cover all beneficiaries totaling to 4747693 & to revise the ration cost as per Govt. of India instruction which is given below.

For Mild and Moderate Children –       Rs. 2.00
For Severely Malnourished Children – Rs. 2.70
For Pregnant & Lactating Mothers –     Rs. 2.30

It is important to note that the measure of severe malnutrition used in ICDS differs from what the NFHS describes as severely underweight. The NFHS criterion includes a considerably larger number of children than is the case with the ICDS. 

Budget provision