INTEGRATED CHILD DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.

INTEGRATED CHILD DEVELOPMENT SERVICES: AN INTRODUCTION-

ICDS is a programme initiated by the government of India (GOI) which provides food, preschool education, primary healthcare, immunization, health check-up and referral services under the age of six years and also to their mothers. This scheme was launched in the year 1975, discontinued in 1978 by the government of Moraji Desai and relaunched by the tenth five-year plan. 

ABOUT THE PLAN:

The tenth five-year plan linked to Integrated Child Development Services to Anganwadi centres established mainly in rural areas and staffed with frontline workers. In addition to fighting malnutrition and ill-health, the programme is also intended to combat gender equality by providing girls with the resources as boys. 

A 2005 study found that the ICDS programme was not particularly effective in reducing malnutrition, largely because of implementation of the problems and because of the poor state has received the least coverage and the funds during the 2018-19 fiscal year. The Indian central government allocated the amount of 16,335 crores to the programme. Now the widespread network of the ICDS programme has an important role in combating malnutrition especially for children of weaker section of the society.

BACKGROUND:

ICDS was launched in the year 1975 in accordance with the National Policy of Children in India. Over the year it has grown as one of the largest integrated family and community welfare scheme, providing its effectiveness over the last few decades, also the government of India has committed to ensuring universal availability of the programme.