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ICDS Full Form: Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) is a government scheme in India. It focuses on child health, nutrition, early education, and maternal welfare. ICDS was launched in the year 1975. The scheme has grown over the years.
Today, it is one of the largest community-based programs in the world. Its main goal is to improve the health of mothers and children. It also works to improve nutrition and early learning. ICDS helps both rural and urban populations. This article explains ICDS Full Form Integrated Child Development Services in detail.
Full Form of ICDS
The full form of ICDS is Integrated Child Development Services. ICDS is a key part of India’s plan to fight malnutrition. It helps improve early childhood education. It also works to improve maternal health. The program shows the government’s focus on health and equality. ICDS has made a strong impact. But it still faces many challenges.
Better infrastructure is needed. Staff need more training. Digital monitoring must improve. Vulnerable groups should get more focus. ICDS must keep changing with time. India’s population has many needs. Continued investment is important. New policies and accountability will help. ICDS can bring more benefits to mothers and children.
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ICDS Launched in Which Year?
The Integrated Child Development Services, commonly known as ICDS, is a government scheme in India. This scheme was officially launched on 2nd October 1975. As of now, it has been running successfully for 49 years.
ICDS Origin and Purpose
ICDS started to fight malnutrition in India. It also aimed to reduce child deaths. It wanted to improve health services for mothers and children. The main goal is to help children under six. It also supports pregnant & breastfeeding mothers.
The scheme stopped in 1978. But it was soon started again. Leaders like Indira Gandhi and Charan Singh supported it. ICDS works to lower child mortality. It helps improve nutrition in children. It promotes early childhood education. It teaches women about health and care. The program has been important since it began.
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Services Provided Under ICDS
The ICDS framework provides many services. These services help children and mothers. It offers nutrition support. It gives health check-ups and vaccinations. These include:
- Supplementary Nutrition – It helps fill the gap between food intake and nutrition needs. It focuses on children from poor families.
- Immunization Support – Vaccinations are given with help from the Health Ministry.
- Health Check-ups – Regular check-ups are done for mothers and children.
- Referral Services – Serious cases are sent to bigger hospitals.
- Pre-school Non-formal Education – Anganwadi centres teach young children through play.
- Nutrition and Health Education – Mothers learn about health, food, and family care.
- Adolescent Counselling – Teenage girls get advice on health and reproduction.
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Supplementary Nutrition under ICDS
ICDS gives supplementary nutrition. It supports children, pregnant women, and nursing mothers. The goal is to improve health and nutrition. It helps reduce malnutrition in poor families.
- For children, the cost is six rupees per day. Each child gets five hundred calories daily. They also get twelve to fifteen grams of protein.
- For severely malnourished children, the cost is nine rupees per day. They receive eight hundred calories daily. They also get 20 to 25 grams of protein.
- For pregnant and lactating mothers, the cost is seven rupees per day. They receive six hundred calories daily. They also get eighteen to twenty grams of protein.
Sample Menus
Tasty and simple recipes are given. These include Aloo-Puri, Stuffed Paratha, Sweet Rice, Sweet Dalia, Panjiri, Gulgule, and Pulao. These are easy to cook and liked by all.
Procurement Process
The government provides wheat and rice at cheap rates. Large purchases are managed by a district-level purchase committee. This committee is headed by the Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC).
At the village level, committees buy fresh items. These include vegetables, fruits, and milk. This ensures fresh food is served. The process is simple and effective. It helps fight malnutrition. It also supports the local economy.
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Health Checkup under ICDS
Health workers visit Anganwadi Centres regularly. These workers include Multi-Purpose Health Workers (Female). They also include Lady Health Visitors and Health Supervisors (Female). They provide expectant mothers prenatal care.
They also provide postnatal care to nursing mothers. They take care of the health needs of children up to six years of age. Medical Officers visit from time to time. They carry out health checkups for mothers and children. These checkups are done regularly. The focus is on early detection of health problems. The aim is to keep mothers and children healthy and safe.
ICDS Implementation Mechanism
ICDS works mainly through Anganwadi Centers (AWCs). These centers are found in rural and semi-urban areas. They provide all ICDS services. Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) manage these centers. They are the main connection between people and the government.
They run nutrition programs and pre-school activities. They also keep health records & spread health awareness. ICDS works with other programs like the National Health Mission (NHM). This helps deliver better health and nutrition services.
Nutritional Component
ICDS mainly focuses on fighting malnutrition. Children between 6 months & 6 years get extra food. This food provides 500 calories and 12-15 grams of protein daily. Pregnant & lactating mothers also get extra rations. These rations help improve their health. They also support better birth outcomes.
Educational Services
AWCs provide informal preschool education. This helps children’s brain, emotional, and physical growth. Early learning prepares them for school. It also helps reduce dropout rates later.
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ICDS Financial Structure
ICDS is a centrally sponsored scheme. The Union Government provides 60% of the funds. State governments provide the remaining 40%. The funding for ICDS has increased over time. This shows the government’s focus on child welfare. The central government contributed ₹16,335 crore in 2018–19.
ICDS Achievements and Impact
ICDS has grown over the last five decades. It now covers most rural areas and many urban places. By 2023, it served millions of children and mothers. There are over 1.2 million Anganwadi centers working under ICDS.
1. Health and Nutrition Improvements
Many studies show the positive impact of ICDS. ICDS services help improve birth weights. They also increase immunization rates. ICDS has helped reduce child mortality. It educates mothers on nutrition and child care. This knowledge benefits future generations too.
2. Educational Outcomes
ICDS helps in early childhood education. It supports children from poor families. Preschool activities at Anganwadi centers prepare children for school. These activities improve social skills and mental growth.
3. Gender Equality
ICDS also works to reduce gender inequality. It gives equal care to both boys and girls. Both get the same health and education services. This helps in closing the gender gap from an early age.
ICDS Challenges and Limitations
Despite its extensive coverage and successes, ICDS faces persistent challenges that limit its effectiveness.
Inequitable Reach
Studies show that the poorest areas get less help from ICDS. Richer and urban places often have better services. Poor states suffer from weak access and fewer resources. This creates gaps in reaching those who need help the most.
Quality of Services
The quality of ICDS services is not the same everywhere. Many Anganwadi Centers lack proper buildings. Food supply is often irregular in some centers. Educational materials are missing in many places. Staff are sometimes not well-trained. These problems reduce the success of the program.
Monitoring and Accountability
Monitoring of ICDS is still weak. This causes problems like corruption and fund mismanagement. Implementation at the village level is often poor. Frontline workers face too much work. They get low salaries. They have fewer chances for career growth.
Operational Hurdles
ICDS faces many bureaucratic problems. Supply chains often break down. Funds are not released on time. These issues make the scheme weak. People start losing trust in the program.
ICDS Recent Developments and Reforms
To increase its efficacy, ICDS has implemented a number of reforms. Many states now use mobile apps to monitor services and track health data of beneficiaries. ICDS has been integrated with Mission Poshan 2.0 to strengthen child nutrition efforts.
Since 2008, India uses WHO’s child growth standards. These help to check children’s health more accurately. Digital tools like biometric systems are used. E-tracking helps reduce corruption. These tools ensure transparency in services.
The aim is to modernize ICDS. The focus is on health, nutrition, and education. Children and mothers in rural areas benefit the most.
ICDS International Support
Global organizations like the World Bank and UNICEF have played a key role in supporting ICDS. UNICEF has provided continuous help since the start of the scheme. It offers technical support & supplies to improve child health & nutrition.
ICDS Full Form FAQs
What is the ICDS scheme's objective?
The program helps women aged 16 to 44. It supports pregnant and lactating mothers. Children under six years also benefit. The aim is to improve health, nutrition, and education. It focuses on changing knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP).
Who started the ICDS program?
The program is centrally sponsored. The Anganwadi center serves as the main conduit for the program. The Ministry of Women & Child Development oversees the ICDS program.
Who is employed by ICDS?
At the grassroots level, Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) deliver services. They work at Anganwadi Centers (AWCs). Anganwadi Helpers (AWHs) assist them in daily activities. Together, they serve children and mothers.
Who benefits from the ICDS scheme?
Children below 6 years, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers are the main beneficiaries of the ICDS program. They receive nutritious food, health check-ups, vaccinations, and preschool education through Anganwadi centers.
Why was the ICDS scheme started?
ICDS was started to fight child malnutrition, reduce child mortality, and support early childhood care. It also helps mothers by providing health education and basic healthcare support.
