MLAs leave ICDS officials bewildered
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 22 2012:
ICDS officials have been put under intense pressure because of undue interference by newly elected MLAs to recruit their chosen women as Anganwadi workers and helpers.
This is despite the Centre's strict instruction not to allow MLAs interfere in recruitment of Anganwadi workers and helpers, and also to exclude MLAs from selection committees.
However, interference by Ministers and MLAs in implementing public welfare programmes is nothing new in Manipur.
Such interference by Ministers and MLAs often causes headache to concerned officials leading to impairment of many a great noble schemes.
During the current financial year, Centre sanctioned 200 Anganwadi Centres for Manipur along 200 new posts each for Anganwadi workers and helpers.
Accordingly Social Welfare Department sought survey reports from CDPOs about the sites where new Anganwadi Centres can be established within their respective districts.
Even as CDPOs have submitted survey reports according to rules and guidelines, all the 60 MLAs have been insisting to open Anganwadi Centres at the sites proposed by their own men and also to recruit their chosen candidates as Anganwadi workers and helpers.
However, an official letter written by Jatinder Kaur, Under Secretary, Ministry of Women and Child Development on May 28, 2007 to ICDS Secretary-in-charge of all States categorically stated that no MLAs should be included in committees set up for establishing Anganwadi Centres and recruitment of Anganwadi workers and helpers.
The letter clearly stated that Anganwadi committees should comprised of only District Social Welfare Officers, BDOs, CDPOs, PHC Medical Officers and Panchayat presidents.
Anganwadi Centres should be opened only at the sites recommended by these committees, and recruitment of Anganwadi workers and helpers should be handled exclusively by these committees without any interference from MLAs.
On the other hand, Social Welfare Minister AK Mirabai had earlier stated that there was no plan for opening new Anganwadi Centres in the State.
But sources revealed that each MLA has been given a quota of 10 posts of Anganwadi workers and helpers.