Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme

Contents

Overview
Background
Objective
Features
Components
Sub-Plans Covered
Financial Allocation
Services Offered
Amendment
Beneficiary
Implementation Strategy and Goals
Frequently Asked Questions

Overview

Integrated Child Development Services was started from 2 October 1975. This scheme is one of the flagship programs by the Government of India, and it represents one of the most extensive and unique programs in the world for the early childhood care and development of children. The scheme is for the children aged between 0-6 years old, pregnant women and for lactating mothers. This scheme is for the children and new mothers as a reaction to all the challenges for giving pre-school and non-formal education for breaking the violent cycle of deformity, mortality, malnutrition and slow learning ability. The goal is to institutionalize the critical services and intensify the structure of all levels.

Background

Based on the 2011 census in our country, the number of 0-6 years old children is around 15.8 crore. In response to the challenge of breaking the malnutrition, morbidity, low learning ability and mortality rate of all these children, a scheme called Sarkar Dhwara ICDS has been launched for their children and nursing mothers.

Objective

To solve the problem of under nutrition, anaemia and low birth weight in children.
To ensure the empowerment of adolescent girls.
Protecting children who violate the law.
To provide safe space for the care of children of working mothers.
Ensuring better monitoring.
Issuing negative alerts for timely action.
To encourage States / UTs for better performance.
To guide and supervise the concerned Ministries and States / Union Territories to achieve the set targets and bring more transparency.

Features

Institutionalize essential services and strengthen structures at all levels.
Implementation of ICDS in mission mode to prevent under nutrition.
Strengthen ICDS -AWC as the first village post for health, nutrition and elementary education.
Focusing on children under three years old.
Focusing on early childcare and learning environments.
Transfer from outlet to child-related outcomes.
Promote decentralization and community-based locally accountable child care approaches.

Components

Early Childhood Care, Education and Development'
Care and Nutrition Counseling
Health Services
Awareness regarding community mobilization, information and advocacy, communication and education

Sub-Plans Covered

Anganwadi Services
Kishori Yojana
Child Protection Service
National Infant Home Scheme

Financial Allocation

60–40 financial allowance for all states and union territories with legislatures.
90:10 for Northeast and Himalayan States.
100% for Union Territories without Legislature.

Services Offered

Supplementary Nutrition
Pre-school and non-formal education
Nutrition and health education
Immunization
Health check-up
Referral services

Amendment

With this revised cost-sharing between the Center and the States, the Rashtriya Shishu Griha Yojana has been converted from a Central Sector Scheme to a Centrally Sponsored Scheme. The scheme will be implemented through the States / UTs rather than the pre-existing implementing agencies.

Beneficiary

Under this scheme, more than 11 crore children, pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers will be tried to benefit adolescent girls.

Implementation Strategy and Goals

Anganwadi service (ICDS) and child protection service are already in operation across the country. The Kishori scheme will be expanded in a phased manner.

Enhancing capabilities at all levels

Vertical integration of training of all workers to strengthen field-based joint action and teamwork to achieve desired results and objectives.
Set up national training resource centres at the central and state levels.

Ensure appropriate inter-regional response at all levels

Guarantee convergence in the grassroots levels through intensifying partnerships along with the civil societies, communities, PRIs, communities, for improving child development.
Coordinate and network with all government and non-governmental organizations providing services for children.

Increase public awareness and participation

Accelerate child and maternal care, health education and nutrition.
Raise public awareness about children's weaknesses at all levels.
Inform the beneficiary group and the public about the availability of essential services.
Promote social movement and voluntary action.

Creating a database and knowledge base for child development services

Strengthen ICDS Management Information System (MIS).
Use information, communication technology (ICT) to strengthen the information base and share and disseminate information.
Undertaking research and documentation.

The team of Integrated Child Development Scheme consists of Supervisors, Anganwadi Assistants, Child Development Project Officers, Anganwadi Workers and District Program Officers. Also, medical officers, female health visitors and auxiliary nurse midwives and female health workers from nearby primary health centres and health sub-centres form a team with ICDS workers to achieve convergence of various services.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is the Integrated Child Development Scheme?

Integrated Child Development Services is one of the flagship programs by the Government of India, and it represents one of the most extensive and unique programs in the world for the early childhood care and development of children.

Q. When was the scheme launched?

Integrated Child Development Services was launched on 2 October 1975.

Q. Who are the beneficiaries under this scheme?

The scheme is for the children aged between 0-6-year-old, pregnant women and for lactating mothers.

Q. What is the objective of the scheme?

This scheme is for the children and new mothers as a reaction to all the challenges for giving pre-school and non-formal education for breaking the violent cycle of deformity, mortality, malnutrition and slow learning ability. The goal is to institutionalize the critical services and intensify the structure of all levels.

Q. What are the sub-plans under the scheme?

The sub-plans under the scheme are Anganwadi Services, Kishori Yojana, Child Protection Service and National Infant Home Scheme.

Q. What are the services provided under this scheme?

The services provided under the scheme are Supplementary Nutrition, Pre-school and non-formal education, nutrition and health education, Immunization, Health check-up and Referral services.