Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS)

This central government welfare programme provides food, pre-school education, and primary healthcare to children under-6 years of age and their mothers. These services are provided from 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 inequality by providing girls the same resources as boys.

Objectives: To raise the health and nutritional level of poor Indian children of the country below 6 years of age.

• To create a base for proper mental, physical and social development of children in India.
• To reduce instances of mortality, malnutrition and school dropouts among children in the country.
• To coordinate activities of policy formulation and implementation among all departments of various ministries involved in the different government programmes and schemes aimed at child development across India.
• To provide health and nutritional information and education to mothers of young children
• To enhance child rearing capabilities of mothers in the country of India.
• To provide nutritional food to the mothers of young children & also at the time of pregnancy period.