Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS)

Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme is a centrally sponsored scheme providing a package of services comprising (i) Supplementary nutrition (ii) Pre-school non-formal education (iii) Nutrition and health Education (iv) Immunization (v) Health check-up and (vi) Referral services through Anganwadi Centres to children below 6 years of age and pregnant women& lactating mothers.  The later three services viz. Immunization, Health check-up and Referral services are provided in convergence with Public Health Systems of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.

The Budgetary allocations for all Plan Schemes including ICDS was made against the backdrop of substantial higher devolution of taxes of 42% to the States, decision to give more flexibility to States in implementation of Schemes and expected higher share from States. The reduction in budgetary allocation is likely to be off set by expected higher cost share from States and Demand for Supplementary Grants. This information was given by the Union Minister of Women and Child Development, Smt Maneka Sanjay Gandhi in reply to an unstarred question in Rajya Sabha today.