ICDS: Key Role of Anganwadi Workers

Abstract

Children are the first call on the agenda of human resource development of every nation today. Various projects and schemes have been run by the Indian government in order to raise their health status. Integrated child development services (ICDS) scheme is one of the largest nutritional programmes for children; which was launched on 2nd October, 1975. ICDS is a centrally sponsored programme implemented by the department of women and child development under ministry of human resource development of the government of India. ICDS services are run through a centre known as anganwadi centre. Anganwadi worker (AWW), a lady selected from the local community, is a community based frontline honorary worker of the ICDS. An AWW is selected as an honorary worker to serve a population of 400 to 800. Under ICDS, AWW provides supplementary nutrition, immunisation, health check-ups, and referral services to children below 6 years of age as well as expecting and nursing mothers, offers non-formal pre-school education to children in the 3–6 age group, and health and nutrition education to women in the 15–45 age group. In addition to delivery of ICDS services, AWW has to assist ANM and coordinate with ASHA also. AWWs also have to be involved in the pulse polio immunization programme and disease control programs that require door to door visits beyond the working hours. With passage of time, anganwadi workers’ responsibilities have been increased and they have become an integral part of ICDS scheme. Work profile of AWW should be revised to avoid overlapping of their roles with other health workers.

Keywords: Anganwadi, children, ICDS, nutrition

Cite this Article

Damanpreet Kaur, Manjula Thakur, Sushma Saini. ICDS: Key Role of Anganwadi Workers. Research & Reviews: Journal of Food Science and Technology. 2016; 5(2): 26–29p.