Name: Kavyashree K & Rekha K Jadhav
Country: India

Year: 2026
Volume: Volume-16, (March) Year-2026 (Special Issue: Business Collaboration in a VUCA World: Redefining Sustainable Organizational Growth)
Page Number: 429-431
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21849379

ABSTRACT
The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme, launched in India in 1975, represents one of the world’s largest programs for early childhood care and development. While primarily evaluated through public health metrics, ICDS functions as a vital institutional mechanism for social change. This article examines the scheme through a sociological lens. It analyzes how Anganwadi Centers (AWCs) impact social stratification, gender dynamics, and early socialization. The study highlights the role of the scheme in mitigating structural inequalities and fostering community-level integration.

Keywords : ICDS Scheme, Early Socialization, Anganwadi Centers (AWCs), Social Stratification, Gender Empowerment & Cultural Capital