Women and Child Welfare Schemes and Programmes
This is the most exam-critical domain for a Mukhya Sevika. It tests the ICDS structure, its six services, central missions for women and children, and the helplines and laws that protect them.
ICDS: six services
Supplementary nutrition, pre-school non-formal education, immunisation, health check-up, referral services, and nutrition and health education. Delivery points are the Anganwadi Centre, Mini Anganwadi Centre and Take Home Ration.
Structure
Anganwadi worker and helper at the centre; supervisor (Mukhya Sevika) above several centres; CDPO at the block/project level; DPO at district level; and the Ministry of Women and Child Development at the centre.
Key schemes
- Poshan Abhiyaan (2018): targets reduction of stunting, undernutrition, anaemia and low birth weight; monitored through the POSHAN Tracker.
- PMMVY: maternity benefit of Rs 5,000 for the first living child and Rs 6,000 for the second, paid in instalments against registration and immunisation conditions.
- Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (2015): girls' survival, protection and education.
- Mission Shakti: umbrella of Sambal (safety and security) and Samarthya (empowerment).
- One Stop Centres, 181 women's helpline, 1098 Childline, POCSO Act 2012, JJ Act 2015, PCPNDT Act 1994.
Worked example
A pregnant woman expecting her first child asks how PMMVY is paid. Reasoning: it is a conditional cash transfer in two instalments - the first after early registration of pregnancy, the second after the child receives the first cycle of immunisation - not a single lump sum, and it is not available for a third child.
Traps that cost marks
Confusing PMMVY with Janani Suraksha Yojana, miscounting the six ICDS services, and counting a Mukhya Sevika as a project officer rather than a supervisor.