MANUAL-1
Particulars of Organization, Functions & Duties
[Section-4 (1) (b) (i)]
1.Objective/purpose of the public authority:
This organization is known as ICDS Balasore Municipality project at Balasore District. This Public authority belongs to Women and Child Development Department. District Social Welfare Office being the Management head of this Project. ICDS stands for Integrated Child Development Services. It is a government program in India focused on improving the health, nutrition, and development of children under the age of 6 and pregnant and nursing mothers. This program is one of the world's largest and most unique early childhood care and development programs.
Objectives of the Scheme are
2.Mission/Vision Statement of the Public Authority:
Mission:
ICDS provides a range of services through Anganwadi centers, including:
ICDS aims to improve the health and well-being of pregnant and lactating mothers, as well as the children they bear.
ICDS also focuses on preventing female feticide and ensuring the survival, education, and protection of girl children.
The scheme emphasizes the importance of optimal early childhood care, development, and learning.
Vision:
The ultimate goal is to reduce malnutrition and improve the overall health status of children.
ICDS focuses on the physical, psychosocial, cognitive, and emotional development of children under 6, with a greater emphasis on those under 3.
The vision includes creating a nurturing, protective, and child-friendly environment that supports early childhood care, development, and learning, including maternal and adolescent care.
3.Brief history of the public authority and context of its formation:
Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) is a government program in India which provides nutritional meals, preschool education, primary healthcare, immunization, health check-up and referral services to children under 6 years of age and their mothers.[1] The scheme was launched in 1975, discontinued in 1978 by the government of Morarji Desai, and then reinstated by the Charan Singh soon after with support of the Indira Gandhi opposition.
Tenth five-year plan also linked ICDS to Anganwadi centres established mainly in rural areas and staffed with frontline workers.[2] In addition to improving child nutrition and immunization, the programme is also intended to combat gender inequality by providing girls the same resources as boys.
A 2005 study found that the ICDS programme was not particularly effective in reducing malnutrition, largely because of implementation problems and because the poorest states had received the least coverage and funding.[2] During the 2018–19 fiscal year, the Indian federal government allocated ?16,335 crore (US$1.9 billion) to the programme, which is 60% of the funding for the programme while the states allocated the remaining 40%.[3] The widespread network of ICDS has an important role in combating malnutrition especially for children of weaker groups.[4]
Background
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The infant mortality rate of Indian children is 3.4%[5] and the under-five mortality rate is 3.9%[6] and 25% of newborn children are underweight among other nutritional, immunization and educational deficiencies of children in India. Figures for India are below the standards of the developed world.[7]
ICDS was launched in 1975[1] in accordance to the National Policy for Children in India.[8] Over the years it has grown into one of the largest integrated family and community welfare schemes in the world.[7] Given its effectiveness over the last few decades, Government of India has committed towards ensuring universal availability of the programme.[9]
4.Duties of the public authority:
ICDS functionaries in India, primarily the Anganwadi workers (AWWs) and Anganwadi helpers (AWHs), play a crucial role in delivering services under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme. Their duties include providing supplementary nutrition, pre-school education, and nutrition & health education to children and pregnant/lactating mothers. Additionally, they conduct health check-ups, immunization, and refer beneficiaries to appropriate health facilities.
Key duties of ICDS functionaries:
Providing supplementary food items to children below 6 years, pregnant women, and lactating mothers to address malnutrition.
Offering non-formal pre-school education to children aged 3-6 years to prepare them for formal schooling.
Conducting awareness campaigns and providing education on proper nutrition and health practices to mothers and the community.
Conducting regular health check-ups of children and pregnant/lactating mothers, and administering immunizations.
Referring beneficiaries to appropriate health facilities for specialized care when needed.
Monitoring the growth of children and alerting parents to any signs of growth faltering.
Engaging the community in ICDS activities and promoting social awareness.
Specific duties of different functionaries:
5.Main activities/ functions of the public authority:
In Odisha, the primary activities of the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme revolve around improving the health and nutritional status of children under six years, pregnant women, and lactating mothers. This is achieved through a package of services, including supplementary nutrition, pre-school education, health check-ups, immunization, and referral services.
Key Activities of ICDS in Odisha:
ICDS provides supplementary nutrition to children under six years and pregnant and lactating mothers to address malnutrition.
ICDS provides non-formal pre-school education at Anganwadi centers, preparing children for primary school and promoting their cognitive, social, and emotional development.
ICDS conducts health check-ups and provides immunization services to children and pregnant women, working in coordination with the National Health Mission and Public Health Infrastructure.
ICDS provides nutrition and health education to mothers and caregivers, empowering them to make informed choices regarding child health and nutrition.
ICDS provides referral services to connect beneficiaries with appropriate healthcare services when needed.
ICDS implements mechanisms for monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of the scheme and making necessary adjustments.
Implementation and Reach:
6.List of Services being provided by the public authority with a brief write-up on them:
Following services are provided under umbrella ICDS Scheme
7.Expection of the public authority from the public for enhancing its effectiveness and efficiency.
Public authority expects a harmonious cooperation and coordination at all level from beneficiary and their family members.
8.Arrangements and methods for seeking public participation/contribution.
Public Participation can be direct at awc level , which is near to them. Otherwise if their quiry is not solved they can directly contact ICDS office.
Several meetings/programmes are being conducted at AWC level , GP level and Project level for public participation and contribution.
9.Mechanism available for monitoring the service delivery and public grievance resolution.
Almost all services are provided directly by AWW/AWH to public which is monitered by Sector supervisors. which then monitered by CDPO at project level and DSWO at District level.
Public grievance can be solved by supervisor level, if not satisfied then CDPO/DSWO level. Public can directly contact and seek resolution to their problem. Otherwise, they can seek help through RTI. APIO/PIO/FAA are appointed in each ICDS project.
10.Addresses of the main office and other offices at different levels.
Integrated Child Development Project Office. Balasore Municipality
At-Golapokhri. Po- Motiganj
District-Balasore
Pin-756003
Land mark- Within Municipality office Campus
11.Morning hours of the office:
Beginning hours of day office-10.00 AM with lunch break 1.30 PM to 2.00 PM
And Beginning hours in morning office -7.00 AM with no lunch break.
12.Closing hours of the office:
Closing hours of day office -5.30 PM and Closing hours of morning office-1.00 PM