The ICDS Scheme is committed towards providing the quality Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE). In- quest of improving nutritional status of children, pregnant women, lactating mothers and adolescent girls. In Gujarat, the scheme was launched in the year 1975. Presently, the Scheme is operational in 426 projects in Gujarat. It has a holistic approach for child health, nutrition and education as Early Childhood Development. The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme seeks to provide Early Childhood Development program through:

• Supplementary Nutrition
• Non-formal Pre-school Education
• Nutrition Health Education
• Immunization
• Referral and Health Check-ups

Gujarat ICDS, WCD through various initiative/schemes provides services for Holistic Early Childhood Development as given below:

1. Under Supplementary Nutrition Programme, nutritious food is given to beneficiaries in form of Take Home Ration and/ or Hot Cooked Meal to meet 1/3rd of their daily requirement i.e. 500 kcal and 12-15gram protein for 6 months to 6 years’ children, 800 kcal and 20-25gram protein for severely underweight children and   600 kcal and 18-20gram protein for pregnant and lactating women and adolescent girls.
   1. Morning Snacks and Hot cooked meal and Fruits for children: Children in the age group of 3-6 years attending anganwadi centers are served morning snacks and hot cooked meal. Apart from morning and afternoon meal children are also provided seasonal fruits twice a week.
   2. Take Home Ration: Under ICDS scheme, 6 months to 3 years’ normal and severely underweight children, 3-6 years severely underweight children, adolescent girls, pregnant and lactating women are provided Balshakti, Purnashakti and Matrushakti as Take Home Ration. This Take Home Ration is being supplied by Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation and respective dairy unions.
   3. Dudh Sanjeevani Yojana: - Doodh Sanjeevani Yojna is functional in 83 Tribal Blocks of 50 Talukas and 26 blocks of 22 Developing Talukas totalling to 109 Blocks of 20 Districts of the State, wherein 100ml fortified, flavored, double toned pasteurized milk is provided to children of 6 months to 6 years 5 days a week and 200ml milk to pregnant and lactating women twice in a week.
   4. Third meal: - The Third Meal as ‘Carry Away Meal’ in form of Laddu (50 gm) is given to moderate and severe underweight children among 3 to 6 years served at AWCs apart from the morning snacks and afternoon meal.
   5. Satva-Double Fortified Salt: Double Fortified Sattva Salt is provided at Anganwadi center for usage during preparation of Hot Cooked Meal and DFS is given to pregnant and lactating mothers and adolescent girls 1kg per month as Take Home Ration.
   6. Poshan Sudha Yojana: This scheme has been initiated by the Government of Gujarat on pilot basis in 10 backward blocks of Dahod, Narmada, Chhotaudepur, Mahisagar and Valsad Poshan Sudha Yojana (Spot Feeding Program). In this programme, pregnant and lactating women are provided one-time full meal and IFA and calcium tablet.
   7. Suposhan Samvad: Suposhan Samwad envisaged as a platform to counsel pregnant women and lactating women on appropriate health and nutrition behaviour and healthy practices.
2. Scheme for Adolescent Girls (Adolescent non-school going girls between the age group of 11-14): - Supplementary Nutrition through THR, Life Skill Training, monitoring of health as well as Vocational Training.
3. Purna Yojana (Adolescent girls between the age group of 15-18): - Supplementary Nutrition through THR, Life Skill Training, monitoring of health as well as Vocational Training.
4. Mata Yashoda Award: - Cash Incentive award to Anganwadi Worker and Helper for best service delivery at Aanganwadi Center
5. Mata Yashoda Gaurav Nidhi: - Insurance Coverage to Anganwadi Worker and Helper
6. Repairing of Anganwadi centres: - Infrastructure development of Anganwadi centres.
7. ICDS ECE/PSE (Early Childhood Education) Program (Children between age group of 3 to 6 years): - Providing nurturing environment for early learning through -

• Implementation of Non formal Preschool Education Curriculum in Anganwadis,
• Provision of Pre-School Education Kit: Procurement of Teaching and learning material for the Pre-School Education program
• ECCE Training: For capacity building of Anganwadi Workers for organizing pre-school education activities.
• Awareness generation among the mothers & community regarding importance of non-formal preschool education activities
• Capacity Building of CDPOs & Supervisors on monitoring and mentoring support to anganwadi workers