The ICDS Scheme aims to improve the nutritional and health status of pre-school children in the age-group of 0-6 years and to lay the foundation of proper psychological development of the child. It also plays important role to reduce the incidence of mortality, morbidity, malnutrition and school drop-out. The scheme also aims to achieve effective coordination of policy and implementation amongst the various departments to promote child development; and 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.
These objectives are sought to be achieved through a package of services comprising (i) supplementary nutrition (ii) immunization, (iii) health check-up, (iv) referral services, (v) pre-school non-formal education and (vi) nutrition and health education.
Three of the six services namely Immunisation, Health Check-up and Referral Services delivered through Public Health Infrastructure under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
CONVERGENCE OF SERVICES
The concept of providing a package of services is based primarily on the consideration that the overall impact will be much longer if different services develop in an integrated manner, as the efficacy of a particular service depends upon the support it receives from related services.
Convergence is, therefore, inbuilt in the ICDS Scheme. Line Ministries such as Health & Family Welfare, Sanitation & Drinking Water Supply, Rural Development and Elementary Education converge for effective implementation of ICDS.
To construct model Anganwadi centers(AWC) in all the Panchayats of the Garhwa district. Upto financial year 2008-09 total 15 no. of AWC have been constructed in the District and 5 work in progress with estimated cost Rs 95.1200 lakhs. In financial year 2009-10 total 14 no. of AWC are sanctioned Rs 67.200 lakhs and its work in progrss. In financial year 2010-11 total 146 AWC are in tender process with estimated cost Rs 730.000 lakhs and district released Rs 365.00 lakhs
ICDS Team
The ICDS team comprises the Anganwadi Workers, Anganwadi Helpers, Supervisors, Child Development Project Officers (CDPOs) and District Programme Officers (DPOs). Anganwadi Worker, a lady selected from the local community, is a community based frontline honorary worker of the ICDS Programme. She is also an agent of social change, mobilizing community support for better care of young children, girls and women. Besides, the medical officers, Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM) and Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) form a team with the ICDS functionaries to achieve convergence of different services.
