ICDS is a centrally sponsored scheme implemented by state governments and union territories.
It aims at providing supplementary nutrition, immunization and pre-school education to the children.
Objectives – To prevent and reduce young child under-nutrition (% underweight children 0-3 years) by 10 percentage points, enhance early development and learning outcomes in all children 0-6 years of age, improve care and nutrition of girls and women and reduce Anaemia prevalence in young children, girls and women by one fifth by the end of 12th five year plan.
Beneficiaries – Children in the age group of 0-6 years, Pregnant women and Lactating mothers.
Services under ICDS – It offers a package of six services such as Supplementary Nutrition, Pre-school non-formal education, Nutrition & health education, Immunization, Health check-up and Referral services.
The services are offered at Anganwadi Centres through Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) and Anganwadi Helpers (AWHS) at grassroots level.
All components of ICDS except Supplementary Nutrition Programme (SNP) are financed through a 60:40 ratio (central : state). The Supplementary Nutrition Programme (SNP) component was funded through a 50:50 ratio.
The North East states have a 90:10 ratio.