Full formGovernment & Exams
CDWstands forChild Development Worker
Full Form of CDW
What is CDW?
A Child Development Worker (CDW) is a frontline community-level functionary in India's Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme, launched in 1975. CDWs are primarily women recruited from local communities to deliver essential health, nutrition, and early childhood education services to children under six years, pregnant women, and nursing mothers. They operate from Anganwadi centres in rural and urban slum areas, conducting growth monitoring, providing supplementary nutrition, immunisation referrals, health check-ups, and pre-school education. The CDW role is crucial for achieving the national goals of reducing infant mortality, malnutrition, and school dropout rates. In India, CDWs are also known as Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) and are supervised by Child Development Project Officers (CDPOs). The position is often referenced in competitive examinations like UPSC, state PCS, and CDS exams under the topic of social welfare schemes. With the government's POSHAN Abhiyaan, CDWs have gained renewed focus as agents of behaviour change in combating malnutrition. Their work involves regular home visits, community mobilisation, and maintaining detailed records of beneficiaries. Despite challenges such as low honorarium and heavy workload, CDWs remain the backbone of India's public health and nutrition infrastructure at the grassroots level.
CDW का फुल फॉर्म
बाल विकास कार्यकर्ता
Example
The CDW in our village coordinated a special nutrition drive for pregnant women under the ICDS scheme.
CDW — frequently asked questions
What is the full form of CDW?
The full form of CDW is Child Development Worker, also commonly called Anganwadi Worker in India.
What is the role of a CDW in India?
A CDW provides pre-school education, nutrition, and health services to children under six, pregnant women, and lactating mothers under the ICDS programme.
Is CDW a government job in India?
Yes, CDWs are honorary workers under the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India, though they receive an honorarium and are considered part of the ICDS workforce.