Aanganwadi Services
Context:
Government has highlighted the targets achieved through aanganwadi services.
About the Aanganwadi services:
- Anganwadi Services (under Umbrella Integrated Child Development Services Scheme) was launched in 1975 with the objectives
- (i) to improve the nutritional and health status of children in the age-group 0-6 years;
- (ii) to lay the foundation for proper psychological, physical and social development of the child;
- (iii) to reduce the incidence of mortality, morbidity, malnutrition and school dropout;
- (iv) to achieve effective co-ordination of policy and implementation amongst the various departments to promote child development;
- (v) to enhance the capability of the mother to look after the normal health and nutritional needs of the child through proper nutrition and health education.
- All the children in the age group 6 months to 6 years, Pregnant Women and Lactating Mothers are eligible for services under Anganwadi Services.
- Anganwadi Services is a self selecting scheme and no targets are fixed for the beneficiaries of either Supplementary Nutrition or Pre-school non-formal education.
- As on 31.03.2021, there are 675.07 lakh children and 156.73 lakh Pregnant and Lactating Mothers receiving Supplementary Nutrition at Anganwadi Centres.
Efforts for Supplementary Nutritions:
- In order to achieve the Anganwadi Services objectives, a package of six services comprising
- Supplementary nutrition;
- Pre-school non-formal education;
- nutrition & health education;
- immunization;
- health check-up;
- referral services are provided to the targeted beneficiaries i.e. all children below 6 years, Pregnant Women and Lactating Mothers.
About ICDS scheme:
- It is a centrally sponsored Scheme implemented by States/UTs across the country.
- The responsibility for implementation of ICDS Programme including computerization if any and providing supplementary nutrition under it has and management thereof rests with States/UTs.
Scheme was launched with the objectives
- To improve the nutritional and health status of children in the age-group 0-6 years;
- To lay the foundation for proper psychological, physical and social development of the child;
- To reduce the incidence of mortality, morbidity, malnutrition and school dropout;
- To achieve effective co-ordination of policy and implementation amongst the various departments to promote child development;
- To enhance the capability of the mother to look after the normal health and nutritional needs of the child through proper nutrition and health education.