Framework to Study Exclusion in ICDS Centre: A Case of Kancheepuram District, Tamil Nadu

In India there is huge inequality in the various social and economic outcomes. To understand the inequalities in the society, it is required to understand the concept of social exclusion and discrimination from the Indian context. This paper has used the works of Amartya Sen, Naila Kabeer and Thorat to understand the concept. Using this concept this paper attempted to understand the existing forms of exclusion and discrimination in various government programme. Secondly, based on the study findings on ICDS programme conducted at Kancheepuram District, Tamil Nadu this paper examined how the inequality and exclusion is continuing in the society at the grass root level. The study was conducted in 11 villages using mixed method, information was collected from 102 respondents, service providers and key informants. The study used Macintyre framework to understand the functioning by looking at the contextual, compositional and collective factors. The study proposes a framework to understand the exclusion in ICDS centre. The findings have shown that there is both general and group specific problems. There are problems at the resource allocation for infrastructure, man power, administrative, priority and lack of support from the PRI and community.