Integrated child development services

Currently, the most important scheme in the field of child welfare is the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS). The blue print for the scheme was prepared by the Department of Social Welfare in 1975. The projects were sanctioned in October 1975.

In ICDS program prior to 2005-06, providing supplementary nutrition was the responsibility of the states and administrative cost was provided by the central government. Government of India has modified the cost sharing pattern under ICDS by giving aid of 60 percent of the financial expenditure to the states/UTs. In North-East states and Himalayan states the share is 90:10 and in Union Territories without legislation it is 100% central share.

Objectives of the ICDS scheme

1. To improve the nutritional and health status of children in the age group 0-6 years.
2. To lay the foundations for proper psychological, physical and social development of the child.
3. To reduce mortality and, morbidity, malnutrition and school drop-out.
4. To achieve an effective coordination of policy and implementation among the various departments working for the promotion of child development.
5. To enhance the capability of the mother and nutritional needs of the child through proper nutrition and health education.

Services provided in ICDS program

To achieve the above objectives the ICDS aims at providing the following package of services.

Delivery of services in ICDS program

1. Supplementary nutrition

Supplementary nutrition is given to children below 6 years, and nursing & expectant mothers from low income group. The type of food depends upon local availability, type of beneficiary, location of the project etc. The aim is to supplement nutritional intake as follows:

• Each child 6-72 months of age to get 500 calories and 12-15 grams of protein (financial norm of Rs 8 rupees per child per day)
• Severely malnourished child 6-72 months to get 800 calories and 20-25 grams protein (financial norm of Rs 12 rupees per child per day)
• Each pregnant and nursing women to get 600 calories and 18-20 grams of protein (financial norm of Rs 9.50 rupees per beneficiary per day).

Under the revised nutritional and feeding norms for supplementary nutrition, state government/UTs have been mandated to provide more that one meal to the children who come to Angan Wadi Centres (AWCs), which include providing a morning snack in the form of milk/banana/egg/seasonal fruit/micro-nutrient fortified food followed by a hot cooked meal. For children below 3 years of age, and pregnant and lactating mothers, "take home ration" is to be provided. All are eligible for availing of the services of ICDS, below poverty line is not a criteria for registration of beneficiaries. The scheme is universal. Supplementary nutrition is given 300 days in a year.

2. Nutrition and health education

Nutrition education and health education is given to all women in the age group 15-45 years, giving priority to nursing and expectant mothers. It is imparted by specially organized courses in village during home visits by Anganwadi workers.

3. Immunization

Immunization of children against 9 vaccine preventable disease is being done, while for expectant mothers, immunization against tetanus is recommended.

4. Health check-up

This includes:

• Antenatal care of expectant mothers.
• Postnatal care of nursing mother and care of newborn infants.
• Care of children under 6 years of age.

Besides immunization, expectant mothers are given iron and folic acid tablets along with protein supplements. A minimum of 3 physical examinations are done. High risk mothers are referred to appropriate institutions for special care.

The health care of children under 6 years of age consists of:

• Record of weight and height of children at periodical intervals.
• Watch over milestones.
• Immunization.
• General check-up every 3-6 months to detect disease, malnutrition etc.
• Treatment of disease like diarrhea, dysentery, respiratory tract infections etc. which are widely prevalent.
• Deworming
• Prophylaxis against vitamin A deficiency and anemia.
• Referral of serious cases to hospital has also been provided for.

5. Non-formal pre-school education

Children between the ages 3-6 years are imparted non-formal pre-school education in an anganwadi in each village with about 1000 population. The objective is to provide opportunities to develop desirable attitude, values and behavior pattern among children. Locally produced inexpensive toys and material are used in organizing play and creative activity.

Schemes for adolescent girls in ICDS program

At present there are two schemes for adolescent girls viz. "Kishori Shakti Yojana" and " Nutrition Programme for Adolescent Girls".

Kishori Shakti Yojana is being implemented using the infrastructure of ICDS. The scheme targets adolescent girls in the age group of 11 to 18 years and addresses their needs of self development, nutrition and health status, literacy and numerical skills, vocational skills etc.

Nutrition Programme for Adolescent Girls was approved in the year 2009-10. Undernourished adolescent girls in the age group of 11 to 19 years are covered under the scheme. 6 kg of free food grain is provided to each beneficiary per month. The programme is being implemented through the administrative set-up of ICDS scheme at the state, district, block and Anganwadi Centre level.