The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme has been conceived as a major intervention by the Central government to deal with the high rates of infant mortality, low birth weight, and malnutrition among women and children. The scheme essentially targets children in the age group of zero to six years and women in the reproductive age group. The problem is that the ICDS is seen as the success story behind bringing down the rates of malnutrition and morbidity, but at the same time it has been held singularly responsible for the failure to reach targeted levels.
It was 10 years ago, in 2001, that the Supreme Court directed the government to universalise the ICDS by 2012 in order to cover all children under six years and open anganwadi centres in all human habitations. That target is still to be met. Many anganwadi centres are run from rented, low-budget facilities without even the basic amenities.
In Haryana, for instance, the majority of the centres are run from chaupals, or common grounds, where the scope for a toilet is extremely limited, inconveniencing not only children but anganwadi workers as well. Also, allocations for the ICDS have not increased meaningfully; in fact, only a mere Rs.538 crore was added on in the Union Budget for 2010-11. The revised Plan outlay was set at Rs.72,877.52 crore under the Eleventh Plan, though the total budget allocations so far, into the fourth year of the Plan period, have amounted to only Rs.26,998 crore.
http://www.flonnet.com/stories/20100423270802400.htm
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