Fact-finding
Report on Implementation of ICDS programme and requirement of locally available
food for Introduction in ICDS menu for Children in Daringbadi Block of
Kondhamal district
Introduction
The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) programme was
launched in 1975 seeking to provide an integrated package of services in a
convergent manner for the holistic development of the child. It is the only
Govt. programme in the country that aims to cater to the nutrition requirements
and other health, immunization, and early education needs of the most
vulnerable groups of population namely children under six years of age,
pregnant and lactating mothers and adolescent girls through providing a package
of services including supplementary nutrition, pre-school education,
immunization, health check-up, referral services and nutrition & health
education. This programme is implemented throughout the country. Hearing the Writ petition filed by PUCL vs
Govt. of India since 2001, the Supreme
Court has given a number of interim orders to both Govt. of India and State Govt. and Union Territories for effective implementation of this scheme
ensuring the coverage of all
children below six years, all pregnant
and lactating mothers and adolescent girls in all rural habitations and urban slums with all nutritional and
health services of the ICDS. To ensure
effective implementation of ICDS programme, Govt. of Odisha has developed new
guideline in the state w.e.f. 1st July 2013. Under this guideline,
the Govt. has made numerous arrangements like provision of cooked egg for
children of 3 to 6 years of age in 3
day in a week, provision of two egg in each week
for pregnant and lactating women
and children of 7 months to 3 years, release of fund for SNP to Anganwadi Worker in every month, Allowance of Rs. 5000/- to each pregnant and Lactating Women under
Mamata Yojana, strengthening Mothers’ Committee and Jaanch Committee to monitor
Anganwadi food programme etc. The State Govt. has also devised another new
guideline to implement different
activities envisaged under the convergent plan for the PVTGs (Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups).
It presents an overview of the strategy to be adopted by the Department
of Health & FW, DWCD and Dept. of SC & ST Development in addressing the
health and nutritional needs of the PVTGs. It is being implemented in the state
from March 2014.
Daringbadi is
one of the tribal dominated Blocks in Kondhamal district. The Block is
surrounded by Hill terrain and deep
forest. The roads are rocky and the villagers are inacessable. Almost all anti-poverty programme and food security
programme are implemented in the
district. Despite that the people still suffer from malnutrition. The
Block is having 342 Anganwadi Centre. Out of 12 supervisors’ post, 6 posts are
lying vacant. There is no Anganwadi Worker
in 11 Centres. This district
also stands infamous for its poverty, malnutrition and backwardness. A 4-member
Team of Right to Food Campaign, Odisha ( a State-level forum of
Civil Society Groups working on Right to
Food) had visited Daringbadi Block
of Kondhamal district on 18th and 19th Jan.16 to
monitor and assess the implementation of ICDS programme and benefit reached to the beneficiaries under this programme in different Gram
Panchayats and feasibility of
requirement of locally available food for ICDS
menu. The Team Members were Sri Pradip Pradhan, Sri Khirod Ch. Routray
and Sri Ashok Kumar Parida, Members of Right to Food Campaign, Odisha and Smt.
Bilasini Nayak, former Vice-Chairman, Daringbadi Panhayat Samiti. The
Team members visited number of Gram Panchayats and interacted with the
villagers, beneficiaries, Anganwadi Workers, Panchayat Representatives etc. to
ascertain fact about implementation of the programme. The details of the villages visited by the Team is as follows.
|
Sl.No.
|
Name of Gram
Panchayat
|
Name of village
|
|
1
|
Danekbadi
|
Kajuripanga
|
|
2
|
Do
|
Kandapa
|
|
3
|
Do
|
Kalimala
|
|
4
|
Do
|
Guhibadi
|
|
5
|
Do
|
Mundrumaha
|
|
6
|
Darsingbadi
|
Dangamala
|
|
7
|
Do
|
Dalagadu
|
|
8
|
Do
|
Chadakia
|
|
9
|
Partamaha
|
Kadaspada
|
|
10
|
Do
|
Katabadi
|
|
11
|
Do
|
Kidramala
|
|
12
|
Tajungi
|
Sikarmaha
|
|
13
|
Do
|
Sikarama
|
During this
visit, the Team members had given emphasis on gathering information about
distribution of THR (Take Home Ration) among the beneficiaries and fund
disbursed to pregnant and lactating women under Mamata Yojana.
A.
Kandapa
Anganwadi Centre
The Team reached in the centre at 11.30 AM and found
Anganwadi Worker and Helper busy in
preparation of the food for the twelve children present in the centre. During interaction,
it was found that morning snacks were not given to the children. No pre-school
education is imparted. The children are only provided food. With regard to
distribution of Chhatua, the L &
P Women said that they were getting only one packet Chhatua per month (As per
Govt. norm, each beneficiary is entitled to get two packet of Chhatua per
month).
B.
Guhibadi
Angawadi Centre
During visit
to Guhibadi village, the Pregnant and Lactating woman complained that they
were not provided egg since
months together. Chhatua ( delicious food mixed of wheat, black
gram and groundnut ) is not distributed regularly. The Condition of the Centre is very
disastrous.
C.
Dangamala
Anganwadi Centre
During visit, the Team found absence of Anganwadi
Worker in the Anganwadi Centre. The Villagers complained that Anganwadi Worker
hardly visited the Centre. Balen Pradhan, Helper was found present and busy in
preparing food. She said that she had not received her monthly allowances since
4 months.
D.
Tekangia
Anganwadi Centre (1)
The Team
reached at 10.30 AM and found 2 children playing in the centre. When enquired,
it was found that total number of 18 children has been enrolled in the
Centre. The villagers said that the
Anganwadi Worker hardly visited the Centre. It is basically managed by the
Helper. Arati Muthamajhi, Helper said that she had not received salary since 4
months. Morning snacks are not provided to the children. Due to negligence of
AWW, the villagers do not like to send their children to the centre.
E.
Tekangia AWC-2
During
interaction with the Villagers of Tekangia, it was observed that the centre is
not opened regularly. The Aganwadi Worker comes to centre two to three days in a
month. Helper is managing the centre. Few children were found playing in the
centre. There is no pre-school education in the centre.
F.
Sikarmaha
Anganwadi Centre
This Centre
comes under Tajungi Panchayat. The Team met Parbati Mallik, Anganwadi Worker
and interacted with her to understand about the functioning of the Centre. She
said that fund is not transferred regularly for food. She manages preparing
food by borrowing items from the local shop. It was observed that she is very committed
and having passion for management of
the centre. There is no building of the centre.
G.
Sikarama AWC
This is very interior village, very
inaccessible. The centre is in
mess. Food is not prepared regularly for
the children. Anganwadi Worker also does
not come regularly.
Distribution
of Take Home Ration (THR)
As per ICDS
guideline, the Lactating and Pregnant women and the children within the age
group of 6 months to 3 years are
entitled each to get 8 eggs and two
pockets of Chhatua per month. Manorama Dihudi of
Jayashree Mahila Mandal, Daringbadi is
supplying Chhatua to 24 GPs having 342
AWCs of this Block. But during visit of the team to all the
centres, it was found that it is not distributed to the beneficiaries anywhere.
Everywhere the team received allegation from women about denial of egg to them.
Parbati Mallik, Anganwadi Worker of Sikaramaha village accepted that she had
not supplied egg from August to
Oct.15. On query about the reason, she said
that due to fund crisis, she could not supply the egg. The women beneficiaries of Tekangia, Sikarama
also levelled similar allegation of non-distribution of egg to them. After a long scrutiny, it was observed that the beneficiaries have been given 4 eggs per month.
Similar, the
team also noticed very irregular in supply of Chhatua to the
beneficiaries. The Chhatua Packet
does not have date and seal of the organisation. As reported, it is not
regularly supplied by the agency. The beneficiaries of Guhibadi, Kandapa said
that they were provided one packet of Chhatua. The Anganwadi Workers could not
give any satisfactory reply about irregular supply of Chhatua. The Team got
convinced that there is huge corruption and irregularities in distribution of
Chhatua in this Block.
|
Name
of the village
|
G.P
|
Chhatua status
|
Egg.
|
Remark
|
|
Kajuripanga
|
Danekbadi
|
Chhatua
for 1st fortnight of January,16
has not yet been delivered
|
Irregular. 4 egg against 8 month is provided in a month
|
Anganwadi
Worker was absent.
Rinki
Nayak and Anjani Nayak told that 3 no. of
egg has been provided in January 16.
|
|
Kandapa
|
do
|
It
has not been distributed to the
beneficiaries in the month of Jan.
16
|
irregular
|
|
|
Kadaspada
|
Partamaha
|
It is distributed once in a month and found
very irregular. Low quality of Chhatua
is distributed. There is no date
on cover of Chhatua Packet
|
irregular
|
|
|
Kalimala
|
Danekbadi
|
1pkt
per month is distributed. No date
on Chhatua pkt.
|
Irregular
but last time got 16 nos.
|
|
|
Guhibadi
|
Danekbadi
|
Irregular
chhatua, 1pkt-2pkt not sure.
|
No boiled egg is distributed. Very Irregular
in supply of egg.
|
The
building of the Anganwadi centre is under construction since 5 years.
|
|
Mundrumaha
|
do
|
Now No Chatua at all.
|
No egg received at all.
|
|
|
Dangamala
|
Drasingbadi
|
Irregular
Chhatua
|
Egg
was not given for 4months
|
Helper not got 4months salary.
|
|
Dalagadu
|
do
|
Irregular
Chhatua
|
Egg
has not been given for 4 months. Now started from 1st January 16.
|
|
|
Chadakia
|
do
|
Chhatua
1pkt/month for son and 2pt was during pregnancy.
|
Irregular.
Beneficiaries not getting 8nos of eggs
per month.
|
Sanjeeb nayak told distribution of chhtua is
very irregular and distributed
once in a moth and once in two
months. Dipanjali Mukhi told though she complained to CDPO, It is
yet not available.
|
|
katabadi
|
Partamaha
|
No
Chhatua has been given in the month of January’2016.
|
Distribution of egg has been stopped for two months.
|
|
|
Kidramala
|
do
|
One
pocket /month. No Chhatua has been
given for January 16
|
Irregular egg. In last 3 months only 4 eggs.
|
|
Allowances under Mamata Yojana
As per
Guideline issued under Mamata Yojana, the Pregnant and Lactating Women are entitled
to get Rs. 5000.00 in four instalments (First Instalment of Rs.1500 on 6 months of
pregnancy, 2nd Instalment of Rs.1500 on 9 months of pregnancy, 3rd
Instalment of Rs.1000.00 on 3 months of delivery, 4th Instalment of
Rs. 1000.00 on 6 months of delivery). During visit, the Team had enquired minutely whether the allowances
have been delivered timely. The Team members randomly met the beneficiaries and
gathered information about timing of payment made to them. It needs to be
mentioned here that the State Govt. has developed on-line payment system to transfer money directly to Bank Account
of beneficiaries. It was found that almost all beneficiaries The beneficiaries
who have not received their dues are as follows.
|
GP
|
Village
|
Name of
beneficiary
|
Details of the issues
|
|
Danekbadi
|
Kajuripanga
|
5nos
of beneficiaries have
not got 1st installment even after 5 months of delivery.
|
|
|
Do
|
Kandapa
|
Renima
Pradhan
|
She has not got
money under Mamata Yojana even
after delivery of child. She got full payment of Rs. 5000 after two years of delivery.
|
|
Do
|
Do
|
Monalisha
Majhi
|
Though
she has already delivered baby since
11 days, not even first installment of
fund has been received by her.
|
|
Do
|
Kalimela
|
Manisha Pradhan
|
After
one year of delivery of first child,
she received 4th installment of Rs. 1000.00.
|
|
Do
|
Mundrumaha
|
Anjali
pradhan
|
Received full amount of
money after one year of
delivery of child.
|
|
Kartabadi
|
Partamaha
|
Sulochana
Padhan
|
No
fund has been given every after 4
months of delivery of Child.
|
|
Do
|
Do
|
Kristna Padhan
|
No
money provided even after 9 months
delivery of child.
|
|
|
Kidramala
|
Malati
Nayak
|
No
fund under Mamata after 9 months of delivery
|
|
|
|
Namita
Pradahan
|
No fund even after delivery
|
Introduction of locally available or prepared food in
ICDS menu
It was one of
the agenda of the Team to identify whether there is space for introduction of
locally available food-grains in ICDS menu. During visit to different villages,
the team had wanted to know from the
villagers about necessity of
introduction of the local food-grains in ICDS food. It needs to be mentioned
here that in tribal regions, large number of minor millets like Bajara, Suan,
Mandia are produced which are highly tasty, proteinous and gives a lot of
energy to the tribals. But these foods are not available in food item of ICDS.
The foods given to the children in Anganwadi Centre are not culturally
appropriate. They are just provided rice and low cost dal. Due to huge corruption, egg is not being provided regularly. During interaction, Sri Brajendra Digal of
Tekangia village and many others of Dalagudu, Sikarmaha, Sikarama said
that Mucca, Bajara, Kandul, Mandia, Biri
are produced in our area which are proteinous. But it is not produced in
huge scale. These foods are better that rice and low cost dal. Mandia and
Bajara can be noon meal for the children. Mucca should be given in the breakfast. But the villagers
expressed their apprehension about availability of required food to feed to the
children throughout the year, as the production of these millets is declining.
Analysis and Recommendation
1. ICDS is considered
as one of the most important food security programme which has mandate to check
malnutrition and food insecurity among the children and pregnant and lactating
woman. But
this programme has precariously failed to achieve its mandate. Due to
corruption, huge irregularities and mismanagement, the Children are not getting
any benefit from AWC. So keeping it in
view, the Team strongly recommends to State Govt. to constitute an enquiry Team
to investigate into the above mentioned allegation ad take appropriate measures
for effective management of AWC in all the villages.
2. ICDS
programme needs to be regularly monitored by external agency consisting of
experts, Soial Activists, retired Govt. officials. The Team should make
periodic visit ad report to Govt. for necessary action.
3. Locally
available food needs to be introduced in ICDS menu after increasing production
of these items through effective planning and subsidy.
Report
prepared by
Pradip Pradhan
State Convener
Right to Food ampaign, Odisha
M-9937843482
Date- 4.2.16
Can you imagine the dedication required for such a detailed investigation, thorough examination by one's own fund, conveyance and time.
ReplyDeleteMasterpiece by Pradip bhai and salute to him and his team for such a cooperation to society.