Sunday, January 5, 2020

Report of Monitoring Team on “ Child Malnutrition in Malkangiri District”, Odisha


Report of Monitoring Team on “Issues of Child Malnutrition and Food Security of Tribal Children in Malkangiri District”

Introduction
Since  long, Right  to Food Campaign, Odisha  has been monitoring  implementation  of  food security  programme and issues  of child malnutrition  in tribal  region of  Odisha. The organization does not limit itself just preparing of Monitoring Report but takes up series of advocacy efforts to fight out child malnutrition issues in the state at appropriate level. The  organization has made series of reports  with  a number of follow up activities  in respect of its monitoring visit  to different parts of the state  examining issues of   Child Malnutrition  among Juang tribes in Nagada of Jajpur district,  Child death in Malkangiri, Child malnutrition among Kutia Kondh tribes of Kalahandi district , Child Malnutrition among Paudi Bhuyan tribes in Banei area of Sundaragarh  district.

This  time, a 3-member Team of Right to Food Campaign, Odisha consisting of  Sri Pradip Pradhan, Sri Akhand and Sri  Sanjay Sahu  had visited  Malkangiri  on 10th and 12th  of  November, 19  to  study  the  Child malnutrition issues  in Naxal-infested  regions  of the  district i.e., Cut-off area of Chitrakunda Block and Bonda  Hill  of Khairput block.   The  team visited    cut-off area  on 10.11.19 and   Bonda Hill on 11.10.19  to gather  information   about  status  of  food security  situation of  tribal children  and  implementation  of ICDS programme  and  its  impact  on health and  food security  of tribal children and examine issues of child malnutrition in Malkangiri district. The Team collected information while interacting with the people, GP functionaries and Anganwadi workers etc. Our priority was to identify malnourished  child, understand  the problem / reason by interacting with the parents,   gather all information from AWCs and the beneficiaries about  implementation of ICDS project  which has mandate  to ensure  food security and check  malnutrition among the  children in the state.  This  is one  of the most important food security programme implemented  nook and corner of the country.   

Details of  visit of the Team

 Date =    10.11.19
Villages Visited -   Jantapai and Paparamelta villages of Paparametla  Gram Panchayat   of Chitrakunda Block.
The Team  members  met Dibya Tarakhara, Anganwadi worker of jantapai  AWC  and collected  details of beneficiaries  registered  in the centre. These  are as follows.

Age  group
 Number  of beneficiaries  in the Centre
0-6 months
8
6 month to 3 years
29
3 to 6 years
44
Pregnant Woman
5
Lactating Woman
8

During inspection of Anganwadi Centre, the team came across Chhatua Packets (a delicious food mixture of wheat, blackgram  and sugar), Sooji halua Packet, Ground-nut Ladu which are  supplementary nutritious food distributed for increasing nutritional standard  of the beneficiaries. These packets were examined and weighed in the presence of  villagers. The team members  observed low quality  of materials   with  shortage  of materials  in each packet.  The details of packets are  as follows.
Category of beneficiaries
Entitlements
6 months  to 3  year
2.205  kg  packet of  Chhatua , 8 eggs  per  month
DO
1.350 KG  packet of  Sooji Halua   per month
Pregnant  woman and lactating woman
1.350 KG  of Packet of  Suji Halua   and 8 Egg
Ground-nut Ladu  per month
DO
4.410 kg Chhatua packet ( one packet  per months)

Item  ( Chhatua )  prepared  and supplied  by Lakhehira Mahila Samabaya Samiti, Chitrakunda for  children
 Quantity
Total quantity of Materials  processed  as mentioned  over  Packet
2.450 kg
Total quantity  of Chhatua available   as mentioned over  packet
2.205 kg
When it was weighed  , it was  found in packet
2.1 kg (  shortage of 105 gram)
Sooji Halua prepared  and supplied  by Lakhehira Mahila Samabaya Samiti, Chitrakunda
Total quantity of Materials processed   as mentioned  on  Packet
1.500 kg
Total quantity  of Chhatua  as mentioned on  packet
1.350 kg
When it was weighed  , it was  found in packet
1.350 kg  ( Sooji  was found neither  fried nor processed. Only raw Sooji  has been packed. )
Ground-nut  Ladu prepared  and processed  by Chitragiri Vegetables Growers’ Sangh , Korakunda, Ph- 9437614727
Total quantity of Materials processed  as mentioned  in Packet
610 gram
Total quantity  of Ladu packed
549 gram
When  it  was weighed  , it was   found
510  ( shortage of 39 grams)

 Anganwadi Worker  expressed    her  ignorance  about  supply  of  shortage  of items  in packet  but  accepted  low  quality  of  food items supplied. The beneficiaries also complained  of low quality  of Chhatua  provided to them. In paparametla  village, the  P&T beneficiaries  also  complained  of irregular  supply  of  Chhatua and egg  by Anganwadi Centres. Anganwadi Worker  also  complained  of less  quantity  of  rice  supplied  by Transport Agent. She  said  annual requirement  of rice  for her centre is  3.5 quintal. But Transport Agent  supplied  7 packets  of rice ( each  bag is to be contained  50 kg rice  which  is shortage of 3 kg ) . It means  21 kg less rice  is supplied  which is adjusted  by Anganwadi Worker.

Visit  of Paparmetla village
During discussion with the villagers mostly Pregnant  and lactating woman, the Team   members received  a lot   of complaints   about irregular supply of Chhatua, Suji Halua  and egg. Priyatama Khila, , Sabitri Pangi ( Mother of  3 months old baby ) , Subarna Khila ( Mother  of 2 week new born baby) , Bati Khara ( Mother  of one year old baby)  complained  of  only one packet  of Chhatua  is given in stead of two pockets per month along with  occasionally  given Suji Halua and Ladu in two to three  months  by Anganawadi  worker.  Only 4 eggs instead of 8 eggs  is supplied . The team members  did not  notice  any  malnourished  child  in  both the  villages. 

Date- 11.11.19
The Team visited  Bonda  Hill, habitation of most Primitive vulnerable tribal groups  in the state.  Hunger, food insecurity is extreme high in this  region. It is  75 kms  from Malkangiri. The  Team  visited  number  of villages  of Mudulipada GP  and found  a number  of children orphaned and malnourished. Anganwadi Centres are  badly  managed. Food  items are  not  properly  distributed.

In Bandhaguda village, the team found four  half naked orphaned  children playing  along side  road. Their  father  Lachhmi Dhangadamajhi  and  Mother  Budai  Dhangadamajhi  have expired two years back.  On query about  who takes  care  of children, the  villagers  said that  the elder one 13 year old  girl prepares  food  and takes  care  of other three  children. They  get   35 kg rice  under Antodaya Anna Yojana ( AAY)  per month  which  is the  only  food  with  salt and green leaves.

In Bandiguda  village,  the  team visisted  Anganwadi centre  and interacted  with Sarita Khirsani  about  implementation of  ICDS  programme. The Team members  noticed  2 year old malnourished  child , daughter  of Budai Khirsani, Mother.  On query   why she  has not  been sent  to NRC ( Nutrition Rehabilitation Centre),  the AWW replied  that  Mother  is not  interested  to carry her  baby for treatment.

The  Team members  inspected  Chhatua and Suji Halua packet  and tasted  Ladu  which are  distributed  to the   beneficiaries . It  was found that  low quality and less  quantity  of  food items  are  distributed  to  the children  which is  a big scam  in this area. There  is lack of  monitoring at  every level.

Age  group
 Number  of beneficiaries  in the Bandiguda Centre
6 month to 3 years
10
3 to 6 years
24
Pregnant Woman
4
Lactating Woman
4

Item  ( Chhatua )  prepared  and supplied  by  Jay Jagannath Women SHG, Udilibeda, Mathili Block , M- 9437025367 for pregnant  and Lactating woman
 Quantity
Total quantity of Materials  processed  as mentioned  over  Packet
4.900  kg
Total quantity  of Chhatua available   as mentioned over  packet
4.410 kg
When it was weighed  , it was  found in packet
4  kg (  shortage of  410  gram)
Sooji Halua prepared  and supplied  by Jay Jagannath Women SHG, Udilibeda, Mathili Block , M- 9437025367
Total quantity of Materials processed   as mentioned  on  Packet
1.500 kg
Total quantity  of Chhatua  as mentioned on  packet
1.350 kg
When it was weighed  , it was  found in packet
1.200 kg  ( 150 gram less , Sooji  was found neither  fried nor processed. Only raw Sooji  has been packed. )
The Team found Ladoo  was very low standard.


Badapada Village
The Anganwadi Centre   was  found   under construction for  years  together.  The  centre  is running in verandah  of the  villagers.  The Team faced  similar  type of allegation  of supply  of less quantity  and low standard  of Chhatua. The  Team found  a number  of  children  malonourished  which  requires  special attention

Details of  Malnourished  children identified in Badapada village is as follows.
Name  of  children
Name  of parents
Chandrika Badnaik , 2 years
F-  Sukru Badnaik , M- Adibari Badnaik
Ranjita Khirsani , 2 years

Bhumika Chalan, 1 year
F-Sama Chalan, M-Sambari Chalan
Anita Sisa , 2 years
F- Mangala Sisa, M- Bhudei Sisa
Sangita Sisa, 1 years
F-Sania Sisa
M-Sanki Sisa
Radhika Badnaik, 7 months
F- Sama Badnaik, M-Gouri Badnaik

Findings
A.      ICDS project is badly implemented and does not reach to the doorstep of the people.  The beneficiaries are found deprived of their entitlements.
B.      Effective attention needs to be paid for enhancing nutritional standard of the children.
C.      Stern action should be taken against the Women SHGs and other organizations for supplying low quality   and less amount of Chhatua.
D.      Lack of proper monitoring is the biggest obstacles for effective implementation of ICDS in the district.

Report prepared  by Pradip Pradhan
Date-2.12.19

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