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Samajik Mukti 2026

The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme in Chandigarh offers crucial support like nutrition, immunization, and early Read More... education for children, pregnant women, and nursing mothers. Read less

Details

The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) is a major government initiative aimed at nurturing young children and mothers. Launched on October 2, 1975, it's a world-renowned program focusing on early childhood care and development.

What Is This Scheme?

ICDS is designed to tackle malnutrition and improve health among children and mothers. It provides a crucial package of services to ensure children get a healthy start in life, while also supporting pregnant and lactating mothers. In Chandigarh, the project has been running since August 1, 1979, and now operates through 450 Anganwadi centres.

Who Can Benefit From This Scheme?

This scheme is for the most vulnerable groups: children from birth up to 6 years old, expectant mothers, and women who are breastfeeding. Additionally, young women in Chandigarh aged 14-18 years are also included.

Why This Scheme Is Important

The primary goal is to reduce deaths, illnesses, and malnutrition in children under six in Chandigarh. It also aims to prevent children from dropping out of school by ensuring they are well-nourished and healthy. By providing integrated services, ICDS helps break the cycle of poor health and learning capacity, building a stronger foundation for the future.

Objective

The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme in Chandigarh offers crucial support like nutrition, immunization, and early education for children, pregnant women, and nursing mothers.

Benefits

The benefits of this scheme include the following:
  • Provident Fund is given to the unorganised worker to provide financial security and stability.
  • Compensation in case of death or disability during work.
  • The government provides financial assistance to the children of beneficiaries who pursue higher studies (for the applicants registered for at least one year). Besides, they give training in safety and skill development.
  • The department also provides health treatment facilities to the unorganised workers who have registered under this scheme.
  • Sources and references

    Eligibility Criteria for ICDS Chandigarh

    • Children aged 0-6 years.
    • Pregnant women.
    • Lactating mothers.
    • Women in Chandigarh aged between 14 and 18 years.
    • The scheme is open to all categories of beneficiaries without any specific restrictions.

    How to Access ICDS Services

    Services under the ICDS scheme are primarily accessed at local Anganwadi Centres. Beneficiaries can visit their nearest Anganwadi Centre to avail of the integrated services provided by Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) and Anganwadi Helpers (AWHS).

    Documents Required

    • Aadhaar Card

    FAQ’s

    What specific services does the ICDS scheme offer?

    The ICDS scheme provides six key services: Supplementary Nutrition, Health & Nutrition Check-Up, Immunization, Non-Formal Education for children below school age, Health and Nutrition Education, and Referral services.

    Who is eligible to receive benefits from the ICDS program?

    The beneficiaries are pregnant women, lactating mothers, and children under 6 years of age. The scheme also covers women in Chandigarh between 14 and 18 years old.

    Can you explain the main goals of the ICDS scheme?

    Certainly! The ICDS aims to improve the health and nutrition of children aged 0-6, foster their psychological, physical, and social development, reduce child mortality, malnutrition, and school dropout rates. It also focuses on coordinating efforts across departments for child development and empowering mothers with health and nutrition knowledge.

    What is the age range for children to benefit from ICDS?

    Children between the ages of 0 to 6 years are eligible for the services provided under the ICDS scheme.

    What kind of support is provided for mothers under ICDS?

    ICDS provides essential support to mothers, including supplementary nutrition, health check-ups, immunization, and health and nutrition education. This helps them take better care of themselves and their children.

    How do I apply for the ICDS scheme?

    There isn't a formal application process in the traditional sense. Services are delivered through Anganwadi Centres. You can visit your nearest Anganwadi Centre to access the benefits for eligible children and mothers.

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