ICDS programme is conducted by?

Appeared in: RUHS, Jaipur, PB B.Sc Nursing Entrance-2021

Explanation

The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) programme is implemented at the state level primarily by the Department of Social Welfare.
The scheme was launched on October 2, 1975, under the Ministry of Social Welfare, Government of India.
The central nodal ministry is now the Ministry of Women and Child Development, which was formerly a department under the Ministry of Human Resource Development.
The programme aims to improve the health, nutrition, and developmental outcomes of children under 6, pregnant women, and lactating mothers through Anganwadi centres.

Option A: The Department of Education is responsible for formal schooling, whereas ICDS provides non-formal pre-school education.
Option B: This is a broader ministry. While the Department of Women and Child Development was once under the Ministry of HRD, the direct state-level implementation of ICDS falls to the Department of Social Welfare.
Option D: The National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, collaborates with ICDS for health services but does not run the entire program.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Implementing body of the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) programme as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses in community health settings frequently collaborate with Anganwadi workers (the frontline ICDS functionaries) for services like immunization, health check-ups, and nutritional counseling, making knowledge of ICDS essential for public health practice.
Understanding the ICDS structure helps nurses refer malnourished children or at-risk pregnant women to the correct local resource (the Anganwadi Centre) for supplementary nutrition and support.
What if? If a child in the community is found to be severely malnourished but the family is unaware of available support, a nurse's first action should be to connect them with the local Anganwadi worker for enrollment in ICDS services, rather than just providing hospital-based care.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core subject of the question, which is the 'ICDS programme'.
Next, analyze the question's prompt: 'conducted by?'. This asks for the implementing or administrative body.
Recall or deduce the nature of ICDS. It involves child development, nutrition, and welfare, not just formal education or healthcare alone.
Evaluate the options based on this understanding. 'Department of Social Welfare' aligns best with the multi-faceted, community-based welfare nature of the ICDS.
Eliminate other options: 'Education' is too narrow, 'NRHM' is health-specific and a separate mission, and 'Human Resource' is a broader ministry, not the direct implementing department at the state level.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Implementing body of the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) programme
Stem keywords: ICDS programme, conducted by
Lead-in keywords: BEST, MOST RELEVANT CLUE
Negative lead-in flag: false

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E6 textbook of Applied Biochemistry and Nutrition & DieteticsHarbans Lal (pp 26-464 of 479) p. 427-429

E6 Nutrition Monika Sharma 3e p. 314-316

Practise the full RUHS, Jaipur, PB B.Sc Nursing Entrance-2021

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.