An evaluation conducted by National Council of Applied Economic Research has ranked Karnataka number one in the country for implementation of Integrated Child Development Services, ICDS. The Director of Women and Child Department in Karnataka Shamla Iqbal told AIR Bangalore Correspondent that the study instituted by the Planning Commission has revealed that Karnataka is far ahead of other states by reaching the programme to 44.43 lakh beneficiaries during 2009-10. At present over 60,000 Anganwadi Kendras and more than 3,300 mini anganwadis in 185 ICDS projects are functioning in the State, covering all 175 taluks and 10 urban areas.ICDS is a centrally sponsored flagship programme, which provides a package of six services like supplementary nutrition, immunization, health check-up, referral services, nutrition and health education for children below six years of age, pregnant women, nursing mothers and adolescent girls.