CCEA approves continuation of four programmes under Integrated Child Development Services

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved four sub-schemes under Umbrella Scheme Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS). These four schemes include anganwadi services, programme for adolescent girls called Sabla, Child Protection Services and National Creche Scheme.

Key Facts

Anganwadi Services (ICDS): It aims at holistic development of children under age of 6 years and its beneficiaries are children of this age group and Pregnant Women and Lactating Mothers.
Sabla (programme for adolescent girls): Its objective is to facilitate, educate and empower adolescent girls (AGs) to enable them to become self-reliant and aware citizens through improved nutrition and health status. It aims at promoting awareness about health, hygiene, nutrition, mainstreaming out of school AGs into formal and non-formal education and providing information and guidance about existing public services.
Child Protection Services: Its objectives are to provide safe and secure environment for children in conflict with law and children in need of care and protection. It also aims to reduce vulnerabilities through wide range of social protection measures, prevent actions that lead to abuse, neglect, exploitation, abandonment and separation of children from families etc. It also aims to bring focus on non-institutional care, develop platform for partnership between Government and Civil Society and establish convergence of child related social protection services.
National Creche Scheme: It aims at providing safe place for mothers to leave their children while they are at work. It is measure for empowering women as it enables them to take up employment. It is also intervention towards protection and development of children in age group of 6 months to 6 years.

Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme

ICDS Scheme is a centrally sponsored scheme implemented by states/UTs. It was launched on 2nd October 1975. It has following objectives: Improve the nutritional and health status of children in the age-group 0-6 years; Reduce mortality, morbidity, malnutrition and school dropout;  Promote policy coordination and implementation for promoting child development; Lay adequate foundation for psychological, physical and social well-being of  children etc.
Under the scheme, services such as Supplementary nutrition; Pre-school non-formal education; nutrition and health education, immunization, health check-ups; and Referral services through Anganwadi Centres for children below 6 years of age as well as to pregnant women and lactating mothers are offered.

Month: Current Affairs - November, 2017