Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS)



ICDS was launched on October 2, 1975 with only 33 experimental projects in the country and with 1 urban and 1 rural project in West Bengal. At present, 355 projects (287 – rural, 23 – urban, 45- tribal projects) are operational

    Introduction :

ICDS is a centrally sponsored scheme run by the State Govt. / UT through AWCs. The main object of the scheme – to improve nutritional and health status of children in the age group of 0-6 yrs, to lay foundation of proper psychological, physical and social development of children to reduce the incidence of mortality, morbidity, malnutrition and school dropout, to enhance the capability of the mother to look after the normal health and nutritional need of the child through proper nutrition and health education.
Packages : Supplementary nutrition / Immunization / Health Check – up / Referral services / Nutrition and Health Education / Non-formal Education.
Integrated Child Development Services ( ICDS) Scheme, a centrally sponsored one, constitutes one of the principal planks in the Nation’s Strategy to provide to children from the deprived sections of the society, the basic services for a better start in life.
The Scheme provides services in an integrated manner to children below the age of 6 years. Restricting the coverage to children less than 6 years is based on the consideration that the pre-school age can be considered as a definite phase in the development of the child. Since the mother has a key role in the physical, psychological and social development of the child, nursing and expectant mothers and other women of 14-45 years are brought under this scheme which aims at the welfare of the child.

     Major Objectives:

The major objectives of the ICDS Scheme are :
i) Improvement in nutritional and health status of the children in the age group of 0-6 years;
ii) Laying the foundation for a proper psychological, physical and social development of the children;
iii) Reduction in the incidence of mortality, morbidity, malnutrition and school dropouts;
iv) Co-ordination of policy and implementation amongst various departments to promote child development; and
v) Enhancement of the capacity of the mother to look after the normal health and nutritional needs of the child through proper nutrition and health education.
Package of six services against category of beneficiaries:
To achieve these objectives, the scheme aims at providing a package of following inter related services:

BENEFICIARIES

SERVICES
1. Expectant and                                   
    Nursing Mothers		 i) Health check up 
ii) Immunization of expectant mothers against Tetanus  iii) Referral Services
iv) Supplementary Nutrition
v) Nutrition and Health Education
2. Other women 15- 45 years Nutrition and Health Education
3. Children less than 3 years  i) Supplementary Nutrition
ii) Immunization
iii) Health Check – up
iv) Referral Services 
4. Children between 3-6 years i) Supplementary Nutrition
ii) Immunization
iii) Health Check – up
iv) Referral Services 
v) Non–formal pre-school education



The focal point of the convergence of these services is the ANGANWADI located within the village itself. Each Anganwadi usually covers a population of 1000 in Rural and Urban areas and 700 in Tribal areas.

           ICDS in West Bengal   

       ICDS was launched on October 2, 1975 with only 33 experimental projects in the country   and with 1 urban and 1 rural project         in West Bengal. At present, 355 projects (287 – rural, 23 – urban, 45- tribal projects) are operational.          

 

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