‘INTEGRATED CHILD DEVELOPMENT SERVICES’
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL JUSTICE, EMPOWERMENT & CULTURE, U.T. OF LAKSHADWEEP

       The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) is one of the World’s largest out reach programme for early child hood care and development; A comprehensive development programme of ICDS aimed at enhancing the health, nutrition and learning opportunities of infants, young children (0-6 years) and their mothers, Adolescent girls etc. It is the foremost symbol of India’s commitment to its children. It is also the response of the country to the challenge of providing pre-school education on one hand and breaking the vicious circle of mal-nutrition, mortality and morbidity on the other.

       The scheme provides an integrated approach for converging basic services through community based honorary workers viz. Anganwadi Workers and Helpers. Services are providing through Anganwadi Centres which literally means courtyard play centre and also a child care centre. In Lakshadweep only one ICDS project (Tribal) with 74 AWCs are functioning in all in habited islands except Bitra. The programmes draws on the resources of the centre, State, Voluntary Organizations, Panchayat and the communities to meet its objectives, of reduction in mortality, morbidity and malnutrition among children by improving their nutritional and health status; reduction in school drop out rate, enhancement of mothers capability to look after the developmental needs of the children and effective policy implementation and co-ordination. Various on going programmes for all round development of women and children like Supplementary Nutrition programme, Health Check-up, Referral Services, Immunization, Non-formal, Pre-school Education, health and Nutrition Education to mothers and Adolescent Girls etc. Besides the above, mid-day meals to pre-school children, Additional Central Assistance to the mal – nourished /underweight pregnant women, lactating mothers and Adolescent Girls are also provided.

      A Universal programme for women called ‘Swayamsidha’ under Integrated women’s Empowerment Programme is also taken up for implementation since 2001under which 264 Self Help groups are formed and for providing self-employment to the women folk. Moreover, awareness classes on various subjects including health and nutrition education, legal literacy, capacity building to self reliance, political awareness etc. are also being imparted to the women employed under this programme.