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ICDS: Key directions in Supreme Court orders

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The following interim orders contain references to ICDS.

  • Order of 13 December 2006

    relevant extracts| key directions

    The order directs, amongst other things, that

    • Government of India shall sanction and operationalize a minimum of 14 lakh AWCs in a phased and even manner starting forthwith and ending December 2008. In doing so, the Central Government shall identify SC and ST hamlets/habitations for AWCs on a priority basis.
    • Government of India shall ensure that population norms for opening of AWCs must not be revised upward under any circumstances. While maintaining the upper limit of one AWC per 1000 population, the minimum limit for opening of a new AWC is a population of 300 may be kept in view. Further, rural communities and slum dwellers should be entitled to an "Anganwadi on demand" (not later than three months) from the date of demand in cases where a settlement has at least 40 children under six but no Anganwadi.
    • The universalisation of the ICDS involves extending all ICDS services (Supplementary nutrition, growth monitoring, nutrition and health education, immunization, referral and pre-school education) to every child under the age of 6, all pregnant women and lactating mothers and all adolescent girls.

    The order holds the Chief Secretaries of the different States and Union Territories responsible for the proper implementation of the ICDS.

  • Order of 7 October 2004

    Contractors should not be used in providing supplementary nutrition to ICDS. Village communities, Mahila Mandals and Self-help groups should be given the preference for preparing the food to be served in ICDS. (In the process of providing anganwadi in each settlement) effort should be taken cover all SC/ST habitations at the earliest. BPL criterion should not be used as an eligibility condition for a child to use anganwadi. While Government of India should ensure that funds are allotted on time, States should ensure that these are fully used so that there is no disruption in the provision of supplementary nutrition.

  • Order of 29 April 2004

    All sanctioned anganwadis to be made fully operational immediately and supplementary nutrition to be served for a minimum of 300 days. Other issues discussed include number of anganwadis required to provide one anganwadi in each settlement, and providing reasonable finances for supplementary nutrition.

  • The ICDS is also discussed in the interim order of 27 April 2004, and an interim order of 17 August 2004.

  • Order of 28 November 2001

    An anganwadi must be provided in each settlement and every child under six, adolescent girl, pregnant woman and lactating woman is entitled to supplementary nutrition under ICDS as per prescribed norms.

Last updated: 14 December 2006