GUARANTEES for social services have been kicking in of late. After guarantees for rural employment and education, people will find it easier to get an anganwadi on demand. On December 13, 2006, the Supreme Court has ordered the government to set up 8 lakh more anganwadi centres in the next two years. Currently there are 6 lakh centres.

Anganwadis are the main agents under the Centre's Integrated Child Development Services (icds), which is India's only scheme that looks after the overall development of children with that of expectant mothers. Anganwadis are tasked with catering to nutritional and other health needs of children under the age of six. The centres run by anganwadi workers function as pre-school cr