In Kerala, ICDS was started in 1975, October 2nd , the 106th birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, as a pilot project in Vengara, Malappuram District. This Scheme was organized on the basis of understanding the relationship between the intellectual, emotional, social development and the health and nutritional Sustainability of the child. ICDS is a multidimensional and a community-based Convergent Scheme.

   The Scheme focuses on children in their early childhood of below 6 years and Strives to bring about their overall development focusing on the physical, psycho-social and Cognitive aspects. It believes that child will reach its full potential through integrated approaches and calls for the Care and nurturing of adolescent, Women and Children through focused, Child centered approach requiring inter-sectoral linkages and Convergence of Services.