The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme is one of the flagship programmes of the Government of India and represents one of the world's largest and unique programmes for early childhood care and development. ICDS was launched on 2nd October 1975, on the auspicious occasion of the 106th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Nation. In the initial stages ICDS was implemented in 33 selected community development blocks all over India. ICDS has expanded considerably in subsequent years and Up to 31st March 2013; there are 7076 sanctioned projects, 7025 operational projects in India. In Punjab ICDS program has expanded very rapidly. At present, there are 155 sanctioned and 154 operational projects. Vijay Rattan is his book (1997) gave details about genesis, growth, components of ICDS and described a package of seven services comprising supplementary nutrition, immunization, health check-ups, and referral services’ treatment of illness, Nutrition and health education and nonformal pre-school education which are provided under ICDS.

Published in: Canada International Conference on Education, 2018

• Date of Conference: 25-28 June, 2018
• DOI: 10.2053/CICE.2018.0019
• Electronic ISBN: 978-1-908320-90-2
• Conference Location: University of Toronto Mississauga, Canada