The Anganwadi Center (AWC) is a community-based institution that serves as the primary delivery point for the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme, a flagship government program in India. The ICDS Scheme, launched on October 2, 1975, was created to address the interconnected challenges of child malnutrition, high mortality and morbidity rates, and poor school readiness. The term Anganwadi itself means "courtyard shelter".
The AWC functions as a one-stop hub, providing a package of six essential services to children under six years of age, pregnant women, and lactating mothers. These services include Supplementary Nutrition, Non-formal Pre-school Education, Nutrition and Health Education, Immunization, Health Check-ups, and Referral Services. The last three services are delivered in convergence with the public health system. The centers are typically staffed by a trained Anganwadi Worker and a Helper, who act as vital links between the community and the government.
The ICDS Scheme and its network of AWCs are connected to the broader framework of child and maternal welfare, falling under the purview of the Ministry of Women and Child Development. The scheme is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, with the Central Government responsible for policy and planning, and State Governments handling day-to-day implementation.
Recently, the scheme has undergone significant changes under Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, which is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme. This mission aims to upgrade and strengthen AWCs into Saksham Anganwadis by providing improved infrastructure, such as internet/Wi-Fi connectivity, LED screens, and water purifiers, to enhance nutrition delivery and Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE). The government has also introduced the Poshan Tracker digital application for real-time monitoring of services, growth monitoring of children, and beneficiary identification through Aadhaar-based verification. While the core services and community-based model remain, the focus has shifted towards modernization, better infrastructure, and digital governance.