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Abstract
The Integrated Child Development Services Scheme, a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, was first launched in 1975 in 33 Projects in the Community Development Blocks and 4891 Anganwadi Centres on a pilot basis keeping the need to holistically address health, nutrition and education needs of children. It was launched in accordance to the National Policy for Children in India. ICDS is a unique child development programme in India and the biggest country-wide multi-sectorial programme in the world, which covers the main components of sustainable human development, viz, health, nutrition and education. By its success in taking a holistic view of the development of child and care of its mother, ICDS has become a pace setter in the developing world with several developing countries evincing keen interest in it. India’s response to the challenge of providing pre-school education on one hand and breaking the vicious cycle of malnutrition, morbidity, reduced learning capacity and mortality, on the other.