ICDS scheme -- a programme for maternal health and child development.

The intersectoral Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) program was launched in 1975 to provide health- and nutrition-related services to children under age 6 years pregnant and lactating women and women aged 15-44 years. It is the largest national program for the development of mothers and children in the world. Program objectives are to improve the nutritional and health status of children aged 0-6 years; to lay the foundations for the proper psychological physical and social development of children; to reduce the incidence of mortality morbidity malnutrition and school dropout of children aged 0-6 years; to achieve effective policy coordination and implementation among various departments providing developmental services to children; and to improve the capability of mothers to meet the health and nutritional needs of their children through proper nutrition and health education. To that end program services provided include supplementary nutrition immunization health check-ups referral services nutrition and health education and pre-school education. These services are provided mainly through Anganwadi workers at village center Anganwadis. The ICDS has led to a reduction in the infant mortality rate and the prevalence of severe forms of malnutrition improvement in the immunization status of children and an increase in the uptake of health services by pregnant and lactating women. Some program constraints do however need to be addressed.