Distribution
of more number of eggs to Anganwadi Children in a week will never reduce
malnutrition in the state
Dear friends
As election strategy of Ruling
party to woo voters, the State Govt. has taken decision to distribute 5 no. of eggs
to the children ( 6 months to 3 years) in Anganwadi centre under ICDS project in a week
with the objective to reduce
malnutrition mostly in tribal region of the state. It is needless to
mention here that earlier the State Govt. has been distributing 3 eggs to the
children in AWCs. It has no way helped the children from malnutrition.
Let us come to the core of the
issue why the State Govt.’s decision to distribute 5 eggs to the children in a
week will not check malnutrition in the state.
Firstly, the State Government has
to check availability of required quantity of egg in Odisha and quantity of egg
produced and supplied from other states like Andhra Pradesh in order to meet
need of the children and domestic consumption. This information should be
available in public domain to gain trust of the people about the
declaration. So far as information is
available with us, such quantity of egg is not available in
the state for which the previous decision of the Govt. to distribute 3 nos. of eggs suffered
and the children in tribal regions were
deprived of egg for months together due to non-availability of egg. Before implementing
this decision, the State Govt. should make adequate administrative and market arrangement
for availability of required egg at door-step of Anganwadi centre in remote tribal pockets.
Secondly, corruption and
irregularities in distribution of egg by Anganwadi workers, misappropriation of
fund meant for SNP is common across the state. The State Govt. lacks robust
grievance redressal mechanism to hear and dispose complaints relating to irregularities
and misappropriation of fund within fixed time period. That’s why the
complaints are seen pending for years together in the office of CDPO and
Collectors without any inquiry which encourages corrupt officials to prepare false bill and vouchures against
distribution of egg. The writer has made several allegations about it and but
kept in dark about any ATR.
Thirdly, the grass-root monitoring
committee like Mothers’ Committee and Jaanch Committee nowhere functions in the
state. Though entrusted, Gram Panchayat never monitors functioning of AWCs. Lack
of monitoring and robust grievance redressal mechanism has encouraged
corruption and irregularities in purchase and distribution of egg in the state.
Fourthly,
Malnutrition is not only due to lack
of egg for consumption of the children of AWCs and
egg is not only nutritious food. The State Govt. has engaged two big NGO like
Akshaya Patra Foundation to distribute Mid-Day-Meal in around 3000 Primary
schools. These NGOs are not giving egg in meal, despite provision of egg curry for the
school children. Then question comes how
it is nutritious. There are other
factors to be given due attention by the Govt. like infrastructure, sanitation
of Anganwadi centres etc. As per information obtained under RTI, only 44% of Anganwadi Centres are having their
own building in the state. Lakhs of the children are taking cooked food
under open sky or someone’s verandah.
Political prograganda followed
by declaration of plethora of schemes will no way help the children suffering from malnutrition.
Pradip Pradhan
M-9937843482
Date- 29.6.16
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