Children’s rights to survival, development, and early education in India: The critical role of the Integrated Child Development Services program

摘要

The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) program was designed to promote the fundamental rights of young children in India. This paper assesses its effects on the survival, development, and education of young children in India by considering the results of two national level evaluation studies. Their findings indicate that the ICDS has played a significant role in improving the survival rate, health and nutritional status, and educational outcomes of children. The ICDS population had a lower infant mortality rate and a better nutrition status than the general child population, which provides further evidence of the efficacy of the program. However, the preschool education component has been faulted and reasons for this are discussed.