Only 25 pc Anganwadi centres have Govt buildings
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 12, 2013: Out of 80 Anganwadi centres selected randomly from across seven districts of Manipur for a survey by the Manipur Alliance for Child Rights (MACR), only 25 per cent are run in Government buildings or Government constructed buildings while the remaining Anganwadi centres are run at private houses or structures.

As per ICDS guidelines, there should be at least one Anganwadi centre for every locality having a population of 300.These Anganwadi centres should provide nutritious food to children from 0 to 6 years, and basic health knowledge and information to pregnant as well as lactating mother.

According to the guidelines of the scheme's fourth phase, all Anganwadi centres should be pucca buildings.

The sample survey was conducted in 80 Anganwadi centres spread across Bishnupur, Chandel, Churachandpur, Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal and Ukhrul in order to identify their activities and shortfalls.

Based on the survey, appropriate recommendations would be sent to the relevant authority.

Out of the 80 centres, only 37 centres have been providing supplementary nutritional food to children regularly.

Nutritional food is not available at all in 31 per cent of the Anganwadi centres out of the total centres selected for the survey.

There are no playthings for kids in 10 per cent of the centres.

There was no regular health check-up in 50 per cent of the centres and only 10 per cent keep children for four hours.

As per the sample survey, maximum number of children are enrolled in Bishnupur district.

In the areas covered by the survey, 60.29 per cent children are enrolled in Anganwadi centres while 40 per cent children are not enrolled in any centre.

The report identified irregular payment of honorarium to workers and helpers, non-distribution of rice and other edible materials regularly and to the prescribed quantity and lack of buildings as some primary reasons for the failure of Anganwadi centres to draw maximum number of kids.

The report was released at Imphal Hotel today.

Speaking at the occasion, former member of Manipur Human Rights Commission Ng Nongyai said that child rights are being violated in Manipur in different manner and degrees.

Many schemes meant for children could not implemented effectively and several Acts enacted for protection of child rights could not be translated into action satisfactorily.

For protection of child rights and proper implementation of children welfare schemes, it is crucial to make the Manipur Commission for Protection of Child Rights strong and vibrant, Nongyai asserted.

But the commission exist just for name's sake in the State.

There is no vehicle and no staff has been appointed for the commission.

The commission has no infrastructure of its own and Chairperson and Members have not been paid monthly salaries.

Manipur Commission for Protection of Child Rights Chairperson A Nabachandra remarked that the survey report released today would help in streamlining the manner of implementing in ICDS in Manipur.

It is essential for line departments to work under an understanding in order to enable children enjoy their rights.

Senior manager of Child Rights and You Ashim Gosh gave a power point presentation of the sample survey report.

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