New Delhi: The Supreme Court has expressed its shock and anguish over UPA (United Progressive Alliance) Government's attitude in not responding to its directive for providing nutrition to poor children under the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS). Giving final opportunity to the Centre to respond within two weeks, a Bench comprising Justice Y K Sabharwal ad Justice Tarun Chatterjee said the number of Anganwadi centres (AWC) providing nourishment to children in the age group of 0-6 years should have been 14 lakh but only six lakh such centres have been set up of which many were non-operational.

The Court on April 29 had directed the Centre to file an affidavit within three months stating the time to be take by it to set up remaining eight lakh AWCs. It had also directed the Government to consider revising the norm of supply of nutrition food worth to the children from Re 1 to Rs 2.

When Additional Solicitor General Mohan Parasaran sought more time, an anguished Bench said, "It is most unfortunate that instead of three months, nearly six moths have expired and the Government of India has still not filed the affidavit and instead an oral application is made seeking more time.

"We are shocked at the attitude of the Central Government in respect of giving nutritious food to all children, though in practice it concerns those unfortunate section of the society who can ill afford to provide nutritious food to the children of the same age group," it said and added that a large number of children in this age group remain malnourished in the country.