Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme, launched in 1975-76 by the GOI aimed at improving the nutritional and health standard of children in the age group up to six years of age and enhancing the capability of mothers to look after the normal health and nutritional needs of their children. Performance audit of implementation of this scheme in Meghalaya revealed that the State was able to achieve the envisaged objectives only to a limited extent. Performance review of the scheme revealed shortfall in implementing various components of the scheme. Though the quantity of the foodstuff provided was as per the norms, the nutritive value of the food was not ensured. Health check-up was not provided to the desired extent and inadequate infrastructure and lack of supervision further affected the working of anganwadis. Some highlights of this performance audit are as presented below:

1. The Department failed to provide supplementary nutrition to 40 to 83 thousand children of 0-6 years age during 2003-08.
2. In the ICDS Project, Rongram, poor quality of milk powder and ready to eat food was distributed to 4,081 children and 736 pregnant/ lactating mothers, thereby adversely affecting their health.
3. There was a shortfall in administering different vaccines to the children and women.
4. The Nutrition Programme for Adolescent Girls was not implemented by the Department despite the release of Rs. 49.36 lakh by the GOI.
5. There was a shortfall in coverage of rural children and mothers by the anganwadi centres by 13 per cent.
6. Around 4.48 lakh rural populace of the State were deprived of the benefit of anganwadi centres due to non-construction of 1,492 centres.