ICDS scheme on the verge of collapse
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, April 03 2013: In addition to irregular supply of nutritional support to Anganwadi centres, the State Government has been depriving the honorariums of the Anganwadi workers and helpers for last 11 years.

The aggrieved Anganwadi workers and helpers are on a agitation mode today.

There are altogether 9128 Anganwadi centres in all the nine districts of the State. According to an official report, Integrated Child Development Service (ICDS) scheme is being implemented in all the 9128 Anganwadi centres in the State under the Social Welfare Department, Government of Manipur.

Under this scheme, nutritional support for children, mainly Paustic Ahar, Khichri and milk are being provided.

Although, these are nutritious foods for children, they are seldom preferred by the children.

According to information received by Hueiyen Lanpao, ICDS scheme in Manipur is on the verge of collapse today.

Since the CDPOs in the hill districts seldom conduct spot visits, they are not familiar with the anganwadi workers and helpers.

The shares of nutritional foods being provided to Anganwadi centres also seem to be different from one centre to another and this need to be looked into seriously.

There are even reports of rice provided under ICDS being sold in Imphal market.

Moreover, desks and benches should be provided to all Anganwadi centres but this has never been done, and mats (3 each to every centre) which used to be provided by the Government have been stopped since 2007.No medical kit has also been provided to Anganwadi centres of late.

It is said that the monthly honorarium of Anganwadi workers and helpers is Rs 3000 and Rs 1500 respectively.

However, the monthly honorariums have not been cleared for the last 11 months since May, 2012 .

If the honorariums are not paid before Cheiraoba festival, the aggrieved Anganwadi workers and helpers might launch agitatons.

In fact,Anganwadi workers and helpers have been contributing money from among themselves for buying the registers of their offices.

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