Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) – An Overview

Explore the programs and impact of the Integrated Child Development Services.
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3 min
10-May-2024

Introduced on October 2, 1975, the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme stands as one of the most extensive initiatives for early childhood development. It serves as a testament to India's dedication to its children, addressing the dual challenge of delivering preschool education while combatting the detrimental cycle of malnutrition, illness, diminished learning abilities, and mortality.

ICDS Scheme: An overview

Given below is a brief overview of the ICDS scheme:

Scheme name

Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme

Launched on

October 2, 1975

Managed by

Ministry of Women and Child Development

Objective

To improve overall development of children in the country.

Services
  • Supplementary nutrition
  • Immunization
  • Health check-up
  • Referral services
  • Pre-school non-formal education
  • Nutrition & health education

 

Objectives of ICDS

Given below are the objectives of the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS):

  • Enhance the nutritional and health condition of children aged between 0 and 9 years.
  • Establish the groundwork for holistic child development.
  • Decrease mortality, illness, malnutrition, and school abandonment rates.
  • Foster efficient coordination among departments to support child development.
  • Empower mothers to meet children's health and nutritional needs effectively.

Services offered under Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme

There is a set of services that the scheme aims to provide in order to achieve the objectives of the scheme. Discussed below are the same:

Services

Target group

Supplementary Nutrition

Children below 6 years

Pregnant and lactating mothers

Immunization

Children below 6 years
Pregnant and lactating mothers

Health check-up

Children below 6 years
Pregnant and lactating mothers

Referral services

Children below 6 years
Pregnant and lactating mothers

Pre-school education

Children between 3 and 6 years of age

Nutrition and health education

Women between 15 and 45 years


Of the services mentioned above, Immunization, Health check-ups, and Referral services are delivered through the Public Health Infrastructure under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Discussed below are these services in detail:

  • Nutrition including Supplementary Nutrition: Supplementary feeding, growth monitoring, and preventive measures for vitamin A deficiency and nutritional anemia are provided, targeting children under six and pregnant or nursing mothers after community-wide surveys. This assistance, offered for 300 days annually, aims to bridge nutritional gaps in disadvantaged communities. Growth monitoring involves regular weigh-ins for children, aiding in early detection of growth issues and provision of specialised care for severely malnourished children.
  • Immunization: Vaccination of pregnant women and infants safeguards against six vaccine-preventable diseases: polio, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, tuberculosis, and measles, which are significant contributors to child mortality, disability, morbidity, and associated malnutrition. Additionally, tetanus immunization during pregnancy diminishes maternal and neonatal mortality.
  • Health check-ups: This encompasses healthcare for children under six, antenatal support for pregnant women, and postnatal assistance for nursing mothers. Anganwadi workers and Primary Health Centre (PHC) staff offer diverse services for children, such as routine check-ups, weight monitoring, immunizations, malnutrition management, diarrhea treatment, deworming, and provision of basic medications.

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ICDS Funding Pattern

ICDS, a Centrally-sponsored Scheme executed by State Governments/UT Administrations, has undergone funding adjustments over the years. Initially, until 2005-06, the Government of India provided 100% financial aid for all inputs except supplementary nutrition, which States were required to fund independently due to resource limitations. To address this issue, starting 2005-06, the government decided to support states either up to 50% of the financial norms or 50% of their expenditure on supplementary nutrition, whichever is lower.

Subsequently, in the fiscal year 2009-10, the funding pattern for ICDS between the Centre and States was revised. For North-eastern States, the sharing ratio of supplementary nutrition changed from 50:50 to 90:10. However, for other States and UTs, the previous sharing pattern of 50:50 remained intact. Yet, for all other components of ICDS, the ratio was adjusted to 90:10, which was previously 100% Central Assistance.

Funding component

Previous ratio

Revised ratio

Supplementary nutrition

50:50 (North-eastern States), 50:50 (Others)

90:10 (North-eastern States), 50:50 (Others)

Other ICDS Components

100% Central Assistance

90:10 (Centre:States)

 

ICDS monitoring and supervision program

The Ministry of Women and Child Development oversees the ICDS Training Unit. Monitoring and supervision entail several measures:

  • Quarterly Progress Reports (QPRs) in a standardised format, capturing physical and financial progress, are submitted by States/UTs to the Government of India (GoI) every quarter.
  • The ICDS Training Unit conducts a detailed analysis of QPRs, organising quarterly review meetings with States at the central level based on this analysis.
  • Monthly/quarterly review meetings are held with Training Centers at the state level.
  • States receive necessary feedback and guidelines following each review meeting.
  • Field visits to AWTCs/MLTCs are conducted by Nodal Officers, District Programme Officers (DPOs)/CDPOs, and officials from the Ministry of WCD and NIPCCD.
  • An annual meeting of the State Training Task Force (STTF) convenes for STRAP approval, performance review, and future action planning.

Schemes under ICDS

Given below are a few schemes under the Integrated Child Development Services:

  • Anganwadi Services Scheme: A unique initiative for early childhood development and care, benefiting children aged 0-6 years, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers.
  • Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojna: Provides a cash incentive of Rs. 5,000 in three instalments directly to the Bank/Post Office Account of Pregnant Women and Lactating Mothers via DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer) during pregnancy and lactation, subject to eligibility criteria.
  • National Creche Scheme: Offers daycare services for children aged 6 months to 6 years, catering to the offspring of working women. Available for seven and a half hours daily, 26 days a month.
  • Scheme for Adolescent Girls: Aims to empower out-of-school girls aged 11 to 14 through nutrition, life skills, and home skills, providing nutritional supplements like iron and folic acid alongside non-nutritional components.
  • Poshan Abhiyan: Aims to combat stunting, undernutrition, anaemia, and low birth weight newborns, focusing on reducing malnutrition/undernutrition and anaemia among children, with special attention to adolescent girls, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers.

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The inception of the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme marked a significant milestone in the Government of India's initiatives. As a pioneering program in early childhood care and development, it addresses the imperative of delivering non-formal education to preschoolers and disrupting the detrimental cycle of malnutrition, illness, and impaired learning. Preschoolers, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers are the primary beneficiaries of this scheme.

Frequently asked questions

What is the purpose of Integrated Child Development Services?

The purpose of Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) is to provide comprehensive early childhood care and development, addressing the challenges of malnutrition, morbidity, and inadequate education by offering services to preschoolers, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers.

What are the six services of ICDS?

The six services of ICDS include:

  1. Supplementary nutrition
  2. Immunization
  3. Health check-up
  4. Referral services
  5. Pre-school non-formal education
  6. Nutrition and health education
What is the aim of the ICDS?

The aim of ICDS is to promote holistic development by providing healthcare, nutrition, and early education to children under six, as well as support for pregnant and nursing mothers, thereby breaking the cycle of malnutrition and improving overall well-being.

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