Integrated Child Development Services
| Integrated Child Development Services | |
|---|---|
| Country | India |
| Launched | 2 October 1975 |
Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) is a government program in India which provides nutritional meals,
Tenth five-year plan also linked ICDS to
A 2005 study found that the ICDS programme was not particularly effective in reducing malnutrition, largely because of implementation problems and because the poorest states had received the least coverage and funding.[2] During the 2018–19 fiscal year, the Indian federal government allocated ₹16,335 crore (US$2.0 billion) to the programme, which is 60% of the funding for the programme while the states allocated the remaining 40%.[3] The widespread network of ICDS has an important role in combating malnutrition especially for children of weaker groups.[4]
Background
The
ICDS was launched in 1975[1] in accordance to the National Policy for Children in India.[8] Over the years it has grown into one of the largest integrated family and community welfare schemes in the world.[7] Given its effectiveness over the last few decades, Government of India has committed towards ensuring universal availability of the programme.[9]
Scope of services
The following services are sponsored under ICDS to help achieve its objectives:[10]
- Supplementary nutrition
- Nutrition and Health Education
- Immunisation
- Health checkup
- Referral services
- Pre-school education(Non-Formal)
- Contraceptive counselling for adolescents
Implementation
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.[11] For adolescent girls in the age group of 10 to 19, 6 kilograms of food grain is given every months.[citation needed]
The services of Immunisation, Health Check-up and Referral Services delivered through Public Health Infrastructure under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.[1] UNICEF has provided essential supplies for the ICDS scheme since 1975.[10] World Bank has also assisted with the financial and technical support for the programme.[9] The cost of ICDS programme averages $10–$22 per child a year.[9] The scheme is Centrally sponsored with the state governments contributing up to ₹1.00 (1.3¢ US) per day per child.[11]
Furthermore, in 2008, the
Challenges
Despite increasing funding over the past three decades, the ICDS fell short of its stated objectives and still faces a number of challenges. Also, though it has widespread coverage, operational gaps mean that service delivery is not consistent in quality and quantity across the country.[13]
Impact
By end of 2010, the programme is claiming to reach 80.6 lakh expectant and lactating mothers along with 3.93 crore children (under 6 years of age).
- A study in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka demonstrated significant improvement in the mental and social development of all children irrespective of their gender.[9]
- A 1992 study of National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development confirmed improvements in birth-weight and infant mortality of Indian children along with improved immunization and nutrition.[9]
- Several studies have shown that ICDS can improve long-term health and educational outcomes of adolescents and adults.[14][15][16][17][18][excessive citations]
However, World Bank has also highlighted certain key shortcomings of the programme including inability to target the girl child improvements, participation of wealthier and middle-class children more than low-income children and lowest level of funding for the poorest and the most undernourished states of India.[19]
See also
- 15 point Programme for minorities
- Balwadi Nutrition Programme
- Malnutrition in India
- Malnutrition in India (Section ICDS)
- Mina Swaminathan
- School Meals in India
References
- ^ a b c d e f "INTEGRATED CHILD DEVELOPMENT SERVICES (ICDS) SCHEME". Government of India. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
- ^ . Retrieved 11 February 2015.
- ^ "Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS)".
- ^ "Has the ICDS helped reduce stunting in India?". ideasforindia.in. Archived from the original on 20 October 2015. Retrieved 9 October 2015.
- ^ "Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) (per 1000 live births) | NITI Aayog, (National Institution for Transforming India), Government of India". niti.gov.in. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
- ^ "India's Under-5 Mortality Now Matches Global Average, But Bangladesh, Nepal Do Better". IndiaSpend. 20 September 2018. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
- ^ a b "UNICEF - Respecting the rights of the Indian child". UNICEF. Retrieved 22 March 2011.
- S2CID 37879920.
- ^ a b c d e Dhar A (27 January 2011). "Infant mortality rate shows decline". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 25 October 2012.
- ^ a b c "The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS)". UNICEF. Archived from the original on 26 June 2012. Retrieved 22 March 2011.
- ^ a b "Supreme Court Commissioners". sccommissioners.org. Archived from the original on 13 August 2009. Retrieved 22 March 2011.
- ^ "The WHO Child Growth Standards". World Health Organisation. Retrieved 22 March 2011.
- ^ "Early childhood development and nutrition in India". Oxford Policy Management. 22 March 2018. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
- PMID 18658189.
- PMID 32692751.
- PMID 29378047.
- S2CID 224806490.
- PMID 26962175.
- ^ "CHAPTER 2 THE INTEGRATED CHILD DEVELOPMENT SERVICES PROGRAM (ICDS) – ARE RESULTS MEETING EXPECTATIONS?" (PDF). World Bank. Retrieved 22 March 2011.