Memorandum of Cooperation to be signed between Ministry of Women & Child Development and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Memorandum of Cooperation to be signed between Ministry of Women & Child Development and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Question: Recently the Union Cabinet has approved the signing of Memorandum of Co-operation (MoC) between Ministry of Women & Child Development (MWCD) and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) for the cooperation in which of the following matters?
(a) Information and Communication Technology enabled Real Time Monitoring (ICT-RTM) of ICDS.
(b) Financial cooperation
(c) Human Resource Cooperation
(d) Cooperation for the successful implementation of the schemes
Ans (a)
Related facts:

  • On 4 May 2016 the Union Cabinet has approved the signing of Memorandum of Co-operation (MoC) between Ministry of Women & Child Development (MWCD) and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) for the cooperation in Information and Communication Technology enabled Real Time Monitoring (ICT-RTM) of Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) and other related technical matters.
  • The Memorandum of Cooperation would help in:
  1. Implementation of ICT-RTM of ICDS which will enable the authorities for timely intervention for ensuring proper service delivery.
  2. Putting up in place a shared national communication campaign, communications strategy and guidelines, customizing communications, products and material to local contexts along with developing plans for large scale dissemination.
  3. Technical support through high quality technical teams of nutrition experts.
  • The phase-I of ICDS Systems Strengthening and Nutrition Improvement Project (ISSNIP) will roll out ICT-RTM through one Lakh Anganwadi Centers (AWCs) in 162 high burden districts of eight participating States.
  • Children of 0-6 year’s age, pregnant women and Lactating Mothers being the ultimate beneficiaries.
  • The MoC would cover 162 high malnutrition burden districts of eight States namely Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhatisgarh, Jharkhand, Maharashtrta, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.
  • There is no financial implication on the part of Ministry of Women & Child Development on entering into MoC with BMGF.
  • MWCD is implementing International Development Association (IDA) assisted ISSNIP in 162 high burden districts of eight States in the country.
  • Phase-I of the ISSNIP which was scheduled to be concluded on 31.12.2015, has since been restructured with modification in activities and extension of time-frame by two years, i.e. up to 30.12.2017.

Reference:
http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=144853
http://pmindia.gov.in/en/news_updates/memorandum-of-cooperation-to-be-signed-between-ministry-of-women-child-development-and-bill-melinda-gates-foundation/?comment=disable