ICDS fails to deliver, no fund released for 3 months
Anganwadi centres lie idle
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 25 2012: Though Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) is one of the many ambitious flagship programmes taken up by the Government of India, the scheme is unable to deliver its stated objectives in Manipur.

A reliable source informed that the State Social Welfare Department has already opened 9498 Anganwadi centres.

However, most of these centres are unable to feed nutritious food to children enrolled there which is the against the guidelines.

The guidelines also specify that not only children, but pregnant women and nursing mothers too should be given nutritious food.

Adding to this sorry state, no food, nutritious or otherwise, were given to children for full three months.

Social Welfare Department did not sanction a single rupee for providing food to children, pregnant and nursing mothers during the months of February, March and April this year.

While workers and helpers of Anganwadi centres were awaiting release of their honorariums for three months, a sum of Rs 71,000 each was deposited in the accounts of some Self Help Groups recently.

But it was not informed whether the money was for the past three months or the current month.

Even as the sum of Rs 71,000 has been released against each SHG, CDPOs are at their wits' end on thinking how the money should be distributed to Anganwadi centres.

What is compounding their problem is variation in the number of SHGs.

While some SHGs are looking after three/four Anganwadi centres, others have as many as 10 to 12 Anganwadi centres.

But the amount released by the department was uniform, being Rs 71,000 for each SHG.

At some places, SHGs were asked to look after eight Anganwadi centres each and each of them was given Rs 22,000 .

This sum of Rs 22,000 is meant for providing nutritious food for one month to children, pregnant women and nursing mothers residing within its area.

Talking to The Sangai Express, Social Welfare Director Seityabati said that a child should be given food worth Rs 4 everyday at the Anganwadi centres.

Nursing mothers should be given both eatable items as well as Rs 5 in cash everyday.

But when the sum of Rs 22,000 is divided among eight Anganwadi centre, they get a little more than Rs 2000 each.

Workers and helpers of most Anganwadi centres are sitting idle as they have no idea what to do with this trifling sum of money.

Comment