about ICDS (Integrated Child Development Services)

Children are the future of a nation. Recognising the importance of children as a vital human resource, the Constitution of India, Directive Principles of State Policy and the National Policy for Children have addressed the need for ensuring holistic development of the Indian Child. However, a significant proportion of children under five years are falling prey to diseases and in some cases death due to malnutrition - a cumulative manifestation of poverty, low status of women, neglect of the girl child, poor environmental sanitation, inadequate access to primary health care, inappropriate child caring and feeding practices.

To address these issues, the Government of India launched the Integrated Child Development Services - ICDS Scheme on 2nd October 1975, to commemorate the birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi.

From the small beginnings of 33 blocks in 1975, ICDS has grown to become world's largest and most unique early childhood development programme - an initiative unparalleled in history. Today ICDS has a network of 4200 projects covering nearly 75% community development blocks and 273 urban slum pockets. Poised for universal coverage, ICDS reaches out to 4.8 million expectant and nursing mothers and 22.9 million children (under six years of age) of the disadvantaged groups. Of these 12.5 million children (aged three to six years) participate in centre-based pre-school activities.

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