Why in the news?

• The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) programme has completed 50 years since its launch as a pilot in Karnataka

Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Programme

• Launch: ICDS is India’s flagship early childhood development programme, launched in 1975 under the Ministry of Women & Child Development (MWCD).
• Aim: Aimed at holistic development of children under 6 years, pregnant and lactating mothers, and adolescent girls through Anganwadi Centres (AWCs).
• Objectives
  • Improve nutritional and health status of children (0–6 years).
  • Lay the foundation for proper psychological, physical, and social development.
  • Reduce child mortality, morbidity, malnutrition, and school dropouts.
  • Enhance the capability of mothers to handle health and nutrition needs of their children.
• Funding: Centrally sponsored scheme
• Service Provided
  • Supplementary Nutrition: 500 kcal/12-15g protein daily for 6 months-3 years; 700 kcal/20g for 3-6 years; Take-Home Rations (THR) or hot cooked meals.​
  • Health Services: Immunization, health check-ups, Vitamin A/IFA supplementation, referral for ailments, and growth monitoring using WHO standards.​
  • Pre-school Education: Play-way method for cognitive, motor, and social skills development.​
  • Nutrition/Health Education: For women on hygiene, family planning, and child-rearing.
• Implementation: Implemented by Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) via Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) and Helpers, with convergence under Poshan 2.0 (Umbrella ICDS scheme since 2021-22).
• Achievements
  • Covers 8 crore beneficiaries; reduced stunting (NFHS-5); improved birth weights, immunization, mental/social development (AP/Karnataka studies).​
  • World’s largest ECCE network; aligns with SDG 2, NEP 2020
• Challenges
  • Poor infrastructure (30% AWCs lack toilets), undernutrition (35.5% stunted), low AWW pay/workload, uneven quality/targeting.​
  • Centralised approach limits community engagement; gaps in poorest states.

Source: The Hindu