To improve the nutritional and health status of children in the age group of 0-6 years,
Government of India has launched a Scheme named ICDS (Integrated Child Development
Services) on 2nd October 1974. The scheme is formulated by Ministry Women and Child
Development and implemented by State Governments WCD department.
ICDS services mainly targeted at young children and pregnant & lactating mother’s
immunization, regular health check-ups and supplementary feeding as well as nutrition and
health education to improve the childcare and feeding practices. Preschool education is also
provided to the children of age between three to six years.
Since last 45 years, lots of changes have been made in ICDS services with expanding of
program to cover dhani’s & villages throughout the country, which has improved the early
education and nutrition of children of 0–4 years, but despite this we are still far behind in the
world. Our generation is constantly lagging, and children of 0-6 years are suffering from
various types of diseases, in which low birth weight, wasting, stunting, anaemia, adequate
and beneficial nutrition for pregnant & lactating women and children. In that period ICDS
services data are also routinely generated and captured by strong MIS system to monitor and
overcome the challenges in execution of services.
To find out the actual status of nutrition and health in the field, the state and ministry is
conducting research by a lot of agencies, but that research is based on random data, so that
we can know the status of the field, but the local status is not known correctly. Is getting
Even after the strong MIS system, we are not able to record the proper data on time, in view
of this, the Government of India has decided to provide a mobile phone to the ICDS in March
2014 for a budget of 581 crores. Smart Mobile phones will help to ICDS in collecting real
time data and strong monitoring system for supervisors, CDPOs and states.
From my field experience & views, I can say that collecting data in real form and monitoring
services through mobile phone is a good initiative, but at the same time, the states also need
to give serious attention to improve the quality of food and building of AWCs. As same view
published by an Anganwadi worker of Delhi. I can’t say state government is not emphasising
on infra of AWCs but even now WCD departments needs more focus on quality of food and
infra of AWCs. In context of Rajasthan their lots of AWCs building newly developed and
maintained by some NGOs through CSR fund but most AWC building is not proper and
water was falling from their roof in the last rainy season. If we focused on pending
grievances, then we can observe that lots of grievances related to quality of food provided to
children in AWCs.
With the expanding of ICDS services in the country government should focus on following
challenges to improve status of Aganwadi services way ahead: -
Minor and slow decrease in the proportion of malnourished children in the last years.
Speedily Improvement in LBW, Wasting, Stunting & Anaemia and spreading
awareness about mother’s feeding and caring behaviour with emphasis on infant and
young child feeding and maternal nutrition during pregnancy and lactation.
Providing nutritious food to PLW and children in the quantity prescribed by the
standards.
Improving Cleaning, sanitation and water facilities.
Strengthening the health facilities in AWCs for PLWs and Childs.
Government of India has launched a Scheme named ICDS (Integrated Child Development
Services) on 2nd October 1974. The scheme is formulated by Ministry Women and Child
Development and implemented by State Governments WCD department.
ICDS services mainly targeted at young children and pregnant & lactating mother’s
immunization, regular health check-ups and supplementary feeding as well as nutrition and
health education to improve the childcare and feeding practices. Preschool education is also
provided to the children of age between three to six years.
Since last 45 years, lots of changes have been made in ICDS services with expanding of
program to cover dhani’s & villages throughout the country, which has improved the early
education and nutrition of children of 0–4 years, but despite this we are still far behind in the
world. Our generation is constantly lagging, and children of 0-6 years are suffering from
various types of diseases, in which low birth weight, wasting, stunting, anaemia, adequate
and beneficial nutrition for pregnant & lactating women and children. In that period ICDS
services data are also routinely generated and captured by strong MIS system to monitor and
overcome the challenges in execution of services.
To find out the actual status of nutrition and health in the field, the state and ministry is
conducting research by a lot of agencies, but that research is based on random data, so that
we can know the status of the field, but the local status is not known correctly. Is getting
Even after the strong MIS system, we are not able to record the proper data on time, in view
of this, the Government of India has decided to provide a mobile phone to the ICDS in March
2014 for a budget of 581 crores. Smart Mobile phones will help to ICDS in collecting real
time data and strong monitoring system for supervisors, CDPOs and states.
From my field experience & views, I can say that collecting data in real form and monitoring
services through mobile phone is a good initiative, but at the same time, the states also need
to give serious attention to improve the quality of food and building of AWCs. As same view
published by an Anganwadi worker of Delhi. I can’t say state government is not emphasising
on infra of AWCs but even now WCD departments needs more focus on quality of food and
infra of AWCs. In context of Rajasthan their lots of AWCs building newly developed and
maintained by some NGOs through CSR fund but most AWC building is not proper and
water was falling from their roof in the last rainy season. If we focused on pending
grievances, then we can observe that lots of grievances related to quality of food provided to
children in AWCs.
With the expanding of ICDS services in the country government should focus on following
challenges to improve status of Aganwadi services way ahead: -
Minor and slow decrease in the proportion of malnourished children in the last years.
Speedily Improvement in LBW, Wasting, Stunting & Anaemia and spreading
awareness about mother’s feeding and caring behaviour with emphasis on infant and
young child feeding and maternal nutrition during pregnancy and lactation.
Providing nutritious food to PLW and children in the quantity prescribed by the
standards.
Improving Cleaning, sanitation and water facilities.
Strengthening the health facilities in AWCs for PLWs and Childs.
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