With a view to improving the health and nutritional status of children in the age group of 6 months to 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 on livelihood. 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, 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. 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 for a period of 300 days a year as per nutritional norms indicated in the table. It is a scheme is a Centrally Sponsored Plan Scheme with having Central share and State share @ 50: 50.

Ration Cost for the beneficiaries under SNP from 01.10.09

Calories and Protein content in different feeding