The efficacy of even the most ambitious government programmes depends on the willing participation of the employees who come in direct contact with the intended beneficiaries. The people who disseminate the fruits of the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) among the expectant and nursing mothers and children below six years are anganwari workers. But a Planning Commission study has pointed out that they are an ignored, dissatisfied lot because the governments refuse to give them their due. Till recently, the Centre was giving them only Rs 1,500 per month which was ultimately increased to Rs 3,000. The states were supposed to top up their monthly salary by another Rs 1,000, but have been miserly in releasing this “princely” sum. As a Tribune report pointed out, Bihar, Nagaland and Arunachal pay them nothing, while Meghalaya pays only Rs 50 a month, as if the health of the children is solely the responsibility of the Centre. The plight of anganwari helpers is even worse with a salary of only Rs 1,500.
Anganwaris themselves are in a state of utter neglect. Sixty per cent of them do not have safe drinking water or toilet facilities. Seventyfive per cent do not have kitchen facilities and cooked food is left exposed to hazardous materials. Eightyfour per cent of the centres in Haryana are unclean; not even one of those surveyed in Punjab had clean toilets. Only a brave mother or child would venture to go to such a place.
With thousands of crores of rupees being poured into the ICDS, the anganwaris can still be turned around, if only the governments show some compassion for the famished children. The stench of neglect was all-pervasive in the 1,500 anganwaris surveyed between 2008 and 2009, but there were exceptions. The Dadumajra centre in Chandigarh stood out as an island of excellence delivering nutrition, health and pre-school education efficiently. That shows that there is nothing wrong with the scheme per se. It’s only the implementation which has gone horribly wrong.
Anganwaris themselves are in a state of utter neglect. Sixty per cent of them do not have safe drinking water or toilet facilities. Seventyfive per cent do not have kitchen facilities and cooked food is left exposed to hazardous materials. Eightyfour per cent of the centres in Haryana are unclean; not even one of those surveyed in Punjab had clean toilets. Only a brave mother or child would venture to go to such a place.
With thousands of crores of rupees being poured into the ICDS, the anganwaris can still be turned around, if only the governments show some compassion for the famished children. The stench of neglect was all-pervasive in the 1,500 anganwaris surveyed between 2008 and 2009, but there were exceptions. The Dadumajra centre in Chandigarh stood out as an island of excellence delivering nutrition, health and pre-school education efficiently. That shows that there is nothing wrong with the scheme per se. It’s only the implementation which has gone horribly wrong.
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