Out of total 12,29,58,749 children in the country below the age of five years (projected 2017), 5,33,07,933 children (43.4%) have been assigned Aadhaar numbers [as on 15^th December, 2017] as per the data released by UIDAI.

The Integrated Child Development Service (ICDS) scheme is a universal self-selecting Scheme and the services are available to all children upto Six years of age who are enrolled at Anganwadi Centres. In order to curb leakages and bring transparency in ICDS delivery system, Government have introduced targeted delivery of the benefits and services using Aadhaar as the primary identifier of the beneficiaries.

As per the existing system, the Supplementary Nutrition in the form of Take Home Ration, Morning Snacks and Hot Cooked Meals to the respective beneficiaries under the Anganwadi Services is served.

This information was given by Minister of State for Women and Child Development, Dr. Virendra Kumar in reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.

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