ICDS

Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme

Launched on 2^nd October 1975, today, ICDS Scheme represents one of the world’s largest and most unique programmes for early childhood development. ICDS is the foremost symbol of India’s commitment to her children – India’s response to the challenge of providing pre-school education on one hand and breaking the vicious cycle of malnutrition, morbidity, reduced learning capacity and mortality, on the other.

1. Objectives: The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme was launched in 1975 with the following objectives:

1. to improve the nutritional and health status of children in the age-group 0-6 years;
2. to lay the foundation for proper psychological, physical and social development of the child;
3. to reduce the incidence of mortality, morbidity, malnutrition and school dropout;
4. to achieve effective co-ordination of policy and implementation amongst the various departments to promote child development; and
5. to enhance the capability of the mother to look after the normal health and nutritional needs of the child through proper nutrition and health education.

2. Services: The above objectives are sought to be achieved through a package of services comprising:

1. supplementary nutrition,
2. immunization,
3. health check-up,
4. referral services,
5. pre-school non-formal education and
6. nutrition & health education.

The concept of providing a package of services is based primarily on the consideration that the overall impact will be much larger if the different services develop in an integrated manner as the efficacy of a particular service depends upon the support it receives from related services.

Services	Target Group	Service Provided by
Supplementary Nutrition	Children below 6 years: Pregnant & Lactating Mother (P&LM)	Anganwadi Worker and Anganwadi Helper
Immunization*	Children below 6 years: Pregnant & Lactating Mother (P&LM)	ANM/MO
Health Check-up*	Children below 6 years: Pregnant & Lactating Mother (P&LM)	ANM/MO/AWW
Referral Services	Children below 6 years: Pregnant & Lactating Mother (P&LM)	AWW/ANM/MO
Pre-School Education	Children 3-6 years	AWW
Nutrition & Health Education	Women (15-45 years)	AWW/ANM/MO

*AWW assists ANM in identifying the target group.

Three of the six services namely Immunisation, Health Check-up and Referral Services delivered through Public Health Infrastructure under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.