European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Background: The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) program has been operation for more than three decades in India. The success of ICDS program in tackling maternal and childhood problems still remain a matter of concern. The present study was conducted to assess issues related to Anganwadi Worker (AWW) and Anganwadi centre (AWC) including infrastructure facilities.
Material and methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in 56 Anganwadi centres (AWCs) of Chitradurga district using a predesigned questionnaire containing 42 questions by interns. The details regarding the infrastructure, process indicators and outcome indicators were collected and analyzed.
Results: All the AWCS visited provided 100% PSE and 100% SN coverage among children. A majority of pregnant and lactating mothers (73.3%) & adolescent girls (57.3%) were availing ICDS services. One third of AWCs reported an interruption in the availability of commodities by the government.
Conclusion: The study has reported gaps in terms of infrastructure facilities and safe and continuous drinking water supply. A number of issues pertaining to the ICDS scheme must be identified for the optimized functioning of AWC and it needs to be promptly addressed.
 

Early Child care and education is a top most agenda of millennium as well as sustainable goals of development as laid down by UNESCO in “Education 2030” agenda. In India also, Various laws and policies are made to serve the cause. But in spite of 44 years of the launch of ICDS scheme for providing ECCE, the targets are still far to be achieved. Hence it becomes important to evaluate the scheme in order to know its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.
Method: SWOT analysis was used to identify positive and negative aspects of the scheme. Convenient Sampling technique was used to take a series of interviews of various stakeholders of the scheme. Their opinions and problems form the basis of this qualitative study.
Results: On the basis of SWOT analysis, programme of action is laid down to improve the operational aspects of the ICDS scheme.