As a national flagship programme, the Integrated Child Development Services is well-conceived. However, more attention has been paid to increasing its coverage than to improving the quality of service delivery, and to distributing food rather than changing existingfamily-based food habits and caregiving. This inertia has resulted in poor outcomes. Past studies have reiterated Uttar Pradesh’s status as an incorrigible offender. Drawing on findings from field surveys administered in nine districts in UP and data from 90 anganwadis, the constraints to the effective functioning of the ICDS are revealed.
