Government has highlighted the targets achieved through aanganwadi services.
About the Aanganwadi services:
Anganwadi Services (under Umbrella Integrated Child Development Services Scheme) was launched in 1975 with the objectives
(i) to improve the nutritional and health status of children in the age-group 0-6 years;
(ii) to lay the foundation for proper psychological, physical and social development of the child;
(iii) to reduce the incidence of mortality, morbidity, malnutrition and school dropout;
(iv) to achieve effective co-ordination of policy and implementation amongst the various departments to promote child development;
(v) to enhance the capability of the mother to look after the normal health and nutritional needs of the child through proper nutrition and health education.
All the children in the age group 6 months to 6 years, Pregnant Women and Lactating Mothers are eligible for services under Anganwadi Services.
Anganwadi Services is a self selecting scheme and no targets are fixed for the beneficiaries of either Supplementary Nutrition or Pre-school non-formal education.
As on 31.03.2021, there are 675.07 lakh children and 156.73 lakh Pregnant and Lactating Mothers receiving Supplementary Nutrition at Anganwadi Centres.
Efforts for Supplementary Nutritions:
In order to achieve the Anganwadi Services objectives, a package of six services comprising
Supplementary nutrition;
Pre-school non-formal education;
nutrition & health education;
immunization;
health check-up;
referral services are provided to the targeted beneficiaries i.e. all children below 6 years, Pregnant Women and Lactating Mothers.
About ICDS scheme:
It is a centrally sponsored Scheme implemented by States/UTs across the country.
The responsibility for implementation of ICDS Programme including computerization if any and providing supplementary nutrition under it has and management thereof rests with States/UTs.
Scheme was launched with the objectives
To improve the nutritional and health status of children in the age-group 0-6 years;
To lay the foundation for proper psychological, physical and social development of the child;
To reduce the incidence of mortality, morbidity, malnutrition and school dropout;
To achieve effective co-ordination of policy and implementation amongst the various departments to promote child development;
To enhance the capability of the mother to look after the normal health and nutritional needs of the child through proper nutrition and health education.