7 in 100 Anganwadi beneficiaries in cities

7 in 100 Anganwadi beneficiaries in cities

In news:

• For every 100 anganwadi beneficiaries in the country, only seven are in urban areas.

Impact: because of a severe lack of anganwadis in cities, leading to poor coverage of the government’s flagship programme in early childhood development.

From Prelims  Point of view:

Anganwadi

• Anganwadis or day-care centres are set up under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) by the Women and Child Development Ministry to provide a package of six services. 
• The services include supplementary nutrition; pre-school non-formal education; immunisation, nutrition and health education; as well as referral services.
• The aim of the scheme is to reduce infant mortality and child malnutrition. 
• Beneficiaries include children in the age group of six months to six years, and pregnant women and lactating mothers.

Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS):

• Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) is an Indian government welfare programme which provides food, preschool education, and primary healthcare to children under 6 years of age and their mothers. These services are provided from Anganwadi centres established mainly in rural areas and staffed with frontline workers.