IAS Gyan

Daily News Analysis

Aanganwadi Services

24th July, 2021 Society

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.