ABSTRACT
The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) has been the main vehicle for removal of undernutrition, though not the only one. There are many critical issues relating to undernutrition following the life-cycle approach and monitoring outcomes that ICDS in its current form does not address comprehensively, leading to much criticism. However, there are instances which demonstrate successful efforts at working within the ICDS system and achieving convergence with other departments, which have the potential of overcoming the limitations in the current systems and delivering on nutritional outcomes. Contrasting the life-cycle approach, it is not easy to achieve intersectoral convergence unless the basic systems in the related departments are internally strong and flexible enough. Having a clear national nutrition policy and strategy with a strong institutional set up with the mandate and teeth to ensure implementation across sectors is the only way to ensure achievement of national nutritional outcomes.
