Integrated Child Development Services, Objectives, Restructuring

Integrated Child Development Services is the world’s largest community-based early childhood development programme aimed at improving child nutrition, maternal health, immunisation, and early childhood education through an integrated approach.

About Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS)

India adopted the National Policy for Children in 1974, which highlighted the need for a comprehensive child welfare programme. Following this, the Integrated Child Development Services scheme was launched in 1975.

• It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme implemented by the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
• The scheme seeks to break the intergenerational cycle of malnutrition and poor health by providing nutrition, healthcare, and early education at the community level.
• ICDS adopts an integrated approach covering Child nutrition, Maternal health, Early childhood education, Immunisation, Health care and Community awareness. 
• Target Beneficiaries: The scheme primarily serves three categories of beneficiaries:
  • Children aged 0-6 years — the most critical window for cognitive, physical, and emotional development
  • Pregnant women — for antenatal nutrition and health care
  • Lactating mothers — for postnatal care and breastfeeding support
  • Urban slums are also a priority area of the programme, in addition to rural and tribal areas.
• The Anganwadi Centre is the main service delivery institution under ICDS.

Objectives of Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS)

The ICDS scheme aims to improve the health, nutrition, and overall development of children and mothers.

• Improving Child Nutrition: The scheme seeks to reduce malnutrition, stunting, wasting, and underweight prevalence among children.
• Reducing Child Mortality: ICDS aims to reduce infant mortality, child mortality, disease burden, and nutritional deficiencies.
• Promoting Early Childhood Development: The programme provides early childhood care and pre-school education for the physical, mental, and emotional development of children.
• Improving Maternal Health: Pregnant women and lactating mothers receive nutrition support and healthcare awareness.
• Reducing School Dropouts: Pre-school education at Anganwadi Centres helps children prepare for formal schooling.

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Services provided under Integrated Child Development Services Programme

 The ICDS delivers an integrated package of six services through Anganwadi Centres:

Supplementary Nutrition (SNP): 

• For nutritional purposes, ICDS provides 500 kilocalories (with 12–15 grams of protein) every day to every child from 6 months to 6 years of age. 
• For adolescent girls in the age group of 10 to 19, 6 kilograms of food grain is given every month. 
• Malnourished children receive enhanced nutrition of 600 calories and 16-20 grams of protein per day.

Pre-school Non-Formal Education (PSE): Children aged 3-6 years receive early childhood care and education (ECCE) at the Anganwadi centre. This prepares them for formal schooling, reducing school dropout rates.

Nutrition and Health Education (NHE): Mothers and women aged 15-45 years receive guidance on child care, nutrition, health, hygiene, and family welfare.

Immunisation: Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) help organise fixed-day immunisation sessions. The Primary Health Centre (PHC) and its infrastructure carry out immunisation of infants and expectant mothers as per the national schedule. AWWs assist in the exercise, maintain records, and follow up to ensure complete coverage. 

Health Check-up: Health check-up activity includes care of all children below 6 years, antenatal care of pregnant women and postnatal care of lactating mothers. AWWs and PHC staff work together to carry out regular check-ups, body weight recording, management of malnutrition, treatment of diarrhoea, deworming, and other minor ailments. 

Referral Services: Severe cases identified during health check-ups are referred to Primary Health Centres or district hospitals for specialised care.

Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Restructuring

• Earlier, ICDS functioned as a standalone flagship programme focused on child nutrition, maternal health, and early childhood care through Anganwadi Centres. 
• Over time, multiple nutrition-related schemes were operating separately, leading to duplication, administrative complexity, and fragmented implementation. 
• To improve efficiency, Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) has now been revised and subsumed under ‘Mission Saksham Anganwadi & Poshan 2.0’.
• Under this restructuring: Anganwadi Services (earlier ICDS),Poshan Abhiyaan, Scheme for Adolescent Girls and National Creche Scheme were integrated into a single umbrella mission.
• A technology-based platform called Poshan Tracker has been introduced for real-time monitoring of beneficiaries and service delivery.
• Poshan Vatikas or nutrition gardens are promoted to improve dietary diversity using locally available nutritious food.