NHRC notices on ICDS, MDMS
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: June 01, 2013 -

Within a span of 24 hours, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has served two notices one after the other to the Government of Manipur through its Chief Secretary giving four weeks time to respond.

The first notice on Wednesday (May 29) relates to alleged misuse of funds sanctioned under the Centrally-sponsored Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) in the State, while in the second notice, which was issued a day after the first notice, the Commission has sought a report from the Chief Secretary of the State over alleged gross irregularities in implementation of Mid-Day Meal Scheme (MDMS), another Centrally sponsored scheme, in the State run schools.

Though the two notices have come on separate days, the Commission has taken up the issue taking into cognizance of the complaint lodged by Wide Angle, an NGO working for the welfare of the children in Manipur, which alleged that most of the Anganwadi Centres in the State are not just poorly equipped but also non-functional and the monthly salaries of the Anganwadi workers and helpers have not been cleared since August 2012 despite the Ministry of Women and Child Development releasing the required fund every year.

Moreover, the rice allotted under Mid-Day Meal for school children are being sold in the black market with the connivance of school authorities, thus, depriving the poor school children of their due benefit of the scheme that ultimately aims to achieve the goal of universalisation of elementary education by providing cooked meal to children in primary levels to boost enrolment, attendance and retention.

As a matter of fact, there is nothing surprising at all in all these allegations raised by Wide Angle, because how ICDS and MDMS are being implemented only for name sake in Manipur since their introduction in October, 1975 and November, 1995 respectively is an open secret to the people even though official files and records may say something else.

The only surprise element, however, is that the notices of NHRC have come in such quick succession like rapid firing, and it is bound to give some sleepless nights to the officials concerned of the State Government, who have remained so cool to the relentless public outcry over deprivation of due benefits and rights of children, who are future pillars of the nation, ensured under the two Centrally sponsored schemes.

In fact, apart from both being flagship programmes of the Government of India, ICDS and MDMS are closely related.

While ICDS has been launched to ensure early childcare to children in the age group of 0-6 years, MDMS focuses on improving the nutritional levels of school going children in the age group of 6 to 10 years.

So, successful implementation of both the schemes is of paramount importance for securing the future and growth of the nation.

Even if the State Government and its officials responsible for successful implementation of the two schemes have conveniently overlooked this vital point, we hope that the delegates of NHRC, who are scheduled to fly down to Imphal for holding a three-day hearing starting from July 17, do not forget this point and settle the matter with Government officials over a cup over tea in the conference room of some swanky hotels.

That would be indeed very unfortunate for the future of the children in conflict-torn Manipur.