37 percent of surveyed ICDS centres not conforming to
norms
IMPHAL, July 12: A one day
State Level Workshop on the status of Integrated Child Development Service (ICDS)
in Manipur and Children’s Right to Food was held at the Conference Hall, Imphal
Hotel today.
During the conference Ashim Ghosh, senior manager, Child Rights and You (CRY),
Kolkata presented power point presentation about the findings of ICDS in Manipur
in collaboration with Manipur Alliance for Child Rights shows that the most
ambitious government scheme for children nation-wide ICDS in Manipur 75 percent
are not running in government building out of 80 surveyed.
“37 percent of the surveyed ICDS centres had failed to provide supplementary
nutritional food on a regular basis”.
ICDS is one of the most important schemes for children below the age of 6 years
but unfortunately it remains one of the most neglected in the state, he said
while adding that it is more neglected in the hill areas at an alarming rate.
Speaking at the function A Nabachandra Singh, Chairperson, Manipur Commission
for Protection of Child Right (MCPCR) said even though funds have been provided
for the construction of anganwadi centers the funds are not utilized properly.
He further said for the protection of child rights several acts have been
constituted however there is a growing fear about how much the acts have
benefitted the children.
Blaming only the government for all the ills will never bring any good, in fact
people should start taking responsibility and act for the welfare of the
children, he said.
During any arrest made by the police, people should ascertain whether the Act
applied is in accordance with the crime for which the FIR is being filed
against the accused so as to ensure that the crime is properly investigated.
Ng Nongyai Singh, former Member, Manipur Human Right Commission (MHRC) said it
needs to be checked whether steps taken up for the welfare of the children are
properly implemented.
He further alleged that right to life, right to food and education of
marginalized children has been blatantly robbed because of the incompetent.
There is lack of infrastructure and facilities of children’s in the society.
He appealed to the public to work collectively for the welfare of the children.
Survey report
on ICDS released
Imphal, July 12: A one-day
state-level workshop on Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) and Right to
Food was organized by Manipur Alliance for Child Rights (MACR) under the
supervision of Child Rights and You (CRY), Kolkata at the Conference Hall of
Hotel Imphal here today.
A survey report on implementation
of ICDS in Manipur was also released by MACR on the occasion. The workshop was
attended by Chairman of Manipur Commission for Protection of Child Rights A
Nabachandra as Chief Guest and Senior Manager of CRY Ashim Ghosh as President.
Speaking on the occasion, former
member of Manipur Human Rights Commission Ng Nongyai said that ICDS is a
centrally sponsored programme for overall development of children right from
birth up to the age of six years. However, this programme is not implemented
properly in the State. There have been allegations for fund misappropriation
against the officials, he noted.
He further commended the efforts
of MACR in bringing out a detailed survey report on ICDS, and appealed to all
to join hands to end crime and violence against children in the State.
Headlines
By : Our Staff Reporter
ICDS
in a mess, honorarium pending for 14 months
IMPHAL,
Jul 12 : Even though monthly honorarium for workers and helpers of Anganwadi
centres set up under ICDS of which Social Welfare Department is the nodal
department has been pending for several months, Finance Department is yet to
give necessary authorisation for releasing the pending honorarium.
Although
due correspondence is being made within the Government for releasing the
pending honorarium of Anganwadi workers and helpers, there has been little
progress in the official procedure, informed a source.
Till
October last year, the total number of Anganwadi centres in the State was 9795.
Workers and helpers of these 9795 Anganwadi centres have not been getting their
monthly honorarium since May last year. As such, their honorarium has been
pending for the past 14 months.
Due
to the huge backlog in the payment of honorariums, Anganwadi workers and
helpers are not in a position to discharge their duties regularly and
effectively.
With
many of the Anganwadi centres becoming defunct due to non-attendance of
children , a large number of Anganwadi workers and helpers have been simply waiting
for monthly honorarium without doing any work.
Apart
from children, Anganwadi workers and helpers are assigned to check body weight
of pregnant women and provide them nutritious food. But these tasks are
performed in very few Anganwadi centres out of the total of 9795 centres.
Although
a large number of Anganwadi centres were opened without any restraint in the
name of implementing ICDS, these centres are not getting what are due to them
as per the scheme guidelines.
This
is one of the main reasons for parents to send their kid to pre-school centres.
Subsequently, very few numbers of kids are attending Anganwadi centres.
As
demanded by the guidelines, one worker and one helper were appointed in every
Anganwadi centre. On account of not paying monthly honorarium from May last
year till June this year, the State Government is facing a liability of Rs
61,70,85,000.
Keeping
a liability of such a huge amount is a clear indication that the authorities
are unable to implement ICDS properly.
In
the same manner, there are many central sponsored schemes of which the Centre
could not release necessary fund in time because the State Government could not
produce its share.
Headlines
By : Our Staff Reporter
Only
25 pc Anganwadi centres have Govt buildings
IMPHAL,
Jul 12: Out of 80 Anganwadi centres selected randomly from across seven
districts of Manipur for a survey by the Manipur Alliance for Child Rights
(MACR), only 25 per cent are run in Government buildings or Government
constructed buildings while the remaining Anganwadi centres are run at private
houses or structures.
As
per ICDS guidelines, there should be at least one Anganwadi centre for every
locality having a population of 300. These Anganwadi centres should provide
nutritious food to children from 0 to 6 years, and basic health knowledge and
information to pregnant as well as lactating mother.
According
to the guidelines of the scheme’s fourth phase, all Anganwadi centres should be
pucca buildings.
The
sample survey was conducted in 80 Anganwadi centres spread across Bishnupur,
Chandel, Churachandpur, Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal and Ukhrul in order
to identify their activities and shortfalls.
Based
on the survey, appropriate recommendations would be sent to the relevant
authority.
Out
of the 80 centres, only 37 centres have been providing supplementary
nutritional food to children regularly. Nutritional food is not available at
all in 31 per cent of the Anganwadi centres out of the total centres selected
for the survey. There are no playthings for kids in 10 per cent of the centres.
There was no regular health check-up in 50 per cent of the centres and only 10
per cent keep children for four hours.
As
per the sample survey, maximum number of children are enrolled in Bishnupur
district.
In
the areas covered by the survey, 60.29 per cent children are enrolled in
Anganwadi centres while 40 per cent children are not enrolled in any centre.
The
report identified irregular payment of honorarium to workers and helpers,
non-distribution of rice and other edible materials regularly and to the
prescribed quantity and lack of buildings as some primary reasons for the
failure of Anganwadi centres to draw maximum number of kids.
The
report was released at Imphal Hotel today.
Speaking
at the occasion, former member of Manipur Human Rights Commission Ng Nongyai
said that child rights are being violated in Manipur in different manner and
degrees.
Many
schemes meant for children could not implemented effectively and several Acts
enacted for protection of child rights could not be translated into action
satisfactorily.
For
protection of child rights and proper implementation of children welfare
schemes, it is crucial to make the Manipur Commission for Protection of Child
Rights strong and vibrant, Nongyai asserted.
But
the commission exist just for name’s sake in the State. There is no vehicle and
no staff has been appointed for the commission. The commission has no
infrastructure of its own and Chairperson and Members have not been paid
monthly salaries.
Manipur
Commission for Protection of Child Rights Chairperson A Nabachandra remarked
that the survey report released today would help in streamlining the manner of
implementing in ICDS in Manipur.
It
is essential for line departments to work under an understanding in order to
enable children enjoy their rights.
Senior
manager of Child Rights and You Ashim Gosh gave a power point presentation of
the sample survey report.
Major gaps in service delivery
system of ICDS in Manipur: MACR
Integrated
Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme, the most ambitious Government scheme
for children nationwide is faltering; major loopholes have been found at the
rapid assessment survey done by Manipur Alliances for Child Rights (MACR) in
collaboration with CRY at 80 Anganwadi Centers (AWC) in the seven districts of
Manipur stated Senior Manager, Child Rights and You (CRY), Kolkata, Ashim
Ghosh.
Giving
a presentation on the findings of the survey at the One Day State level
consultation on the status of ICDS Anganwadi centers organized by MACR at Hotel
Imphal on Friday, Ashim Gosh stated that ICDS scheme was introduced in Manipur
on October 2, 1975 with a pilot project at Ukhrul TD Block. The scheme was
implemented by Social Welfare Department as the nodal agency. Now the scheme is
expanding throughout the state. Up to October 2012, 9795 Anganwadi Centers were
reportedly actively functioning throughout the state.
Improving
nutritional and health status of children in the age group of 0-6 years,
reducing the incidence of infant mortality, malnutrition and school dropouts,
enhancing the capability of the mother to look after the normal health and
nutritional needs of the child through proper health, nutrition and education
are the objectives of ICDS scheme among others, he said.
The
survey was conducted at 80 AWC across seven districts of the state. Out of the
80 surveyed ICDS centers, 75% are reported to be not running under Government
center. Moreover at the survey only 15 centers are found to have usable
kitchens. 10% of them are without play materials for the children.
Only
48.75% and 28.75 % of the centers provided health check-up to pregnant and
nursing mothers. 2.5% ICDS centers provide poor quality food Out of the 80
centers 52.50 %, 5%, 25% of the centers were visited by Supervisors on a
monthly, quarterly and once in a year basis respectively. But in 11.25% of the
centers Supervisors never paid a visit, Ashim Ghosh revealed.
In
order to make ICDS more meaningful, more focus is required in hill District of
the state where the status of ICDS scheme is alarming below satisfactory level
as per given norms, he said. ICDS centers must be hygienic and child friendly
and moreover recommendation for more focus on infrastructure and timely
monitoring by the authorized officials is a must, Ashim opined.
Chief
Guest of the function, Chairperson of Manipur Commission for Protection of
Child Rights (MCPCR), A Nabacnadra Singh stated that as per report of the
survey “we are aware of the service delivery system of ICDS and will help in
taking up measures to improve the scheme. Social Welfare Department too will be
aware of the major gaps in the service delivery system through the reports of
the survey”.
Coordination
of all the Department is a must for successful implementation of ICDS, he
asserted.
Giving
the keynote address of the function Convener of MACR, K Pradipkumar stated that
ICDS’s AWC represents the world’s largest intervention providing early
childhood care and education. However the mega scheme has no more statutory
foundation as it rests on Government’s initiative, not on legislation.
He
also asserted that the need of the hour in the state is to train and motivate
all the Anganwadi Workers and Helpers in order to invigorate their overall
working environment. Adequate resources should be made available at every
AWC. Since lack of resources is a common scenario in all the centers.
Irregularities in disbursement of supplementary nutrition and honorarium for
the employees are the major challenges hampering the quality service of the
AWC.
He
also added that a new revolutionized perspective, strong political commitment
and good administration is indispensable for successful implementation of ICDS
scheme.
The
survey report of ICDS conducted by MACR was also released by the chief guest of
the function.
The
function was also attended by Former Member of Manipur Human Rights Commision,
Ng Nongyai as the president.
Major gaps in
service delivery system of ICDS in Manipur: MACR
July 12
2013:Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme, the most ambitious
Government scheme for children nationwide is faltering; major loopholes have
been found at the rapid assessment survey done by Manipur Alliances for Child
Rights (MACR) in collaboration with CRY at 80 Anganwadi Centers (AWC) in the
seven districts of Manipur stated Senior Manager, Child Rights and You (CRY),
Kolkata, Ashim Ghosh.
Giving a presentation on the findings of the survey at
the One Day State level consultation on the status of ICDS Anganwadi centers
organized by MACR at Hotel Imphal on Friday, Ashim Gosh stated that ICDS scheme
was introduced in Manipur on October 2, 1975 with a pilot project at Ukhrul TD
Block. The scheme was implemented by Social Welfare Department as the nodal
agency. Now the scheme is expanding throughout the state. Up to October 2012,
9795 Anganwadi Centers were reportedly actively functioning throughout the
state.
Improving nutritional and health status of children in
the age group of 0-6 years, reducing the incidence of infant mortality,
malnutrition and school dropouts, enhancing the capability of the mother to
look after the normal health and nutritional needs of the child through proper
health, nutrition and education are the objectives of ICDS scheme among others,
he said.
The survey was conducted at 80 AWC across seven
districts of the state. Out of the 80 surveyed ICDS centers, 75% are reported
to be not running under Government center. Moreover at the survey only 15
centers are found to have usable kitchens. 10% of them are without play
materials for the children.
Only 48.75% and 28.75 % of the centers provided health
check-up to pregnant and nursing mothers. 2.5% ICDS centers provide poor
quality food Out of the 80 centers 52.50 %, 5%, 25% of the centers were visited
by Supervisors on a monthly, quarterly and once in a year basis respectively.
But in 11.25% of the centers Supervisors never paid a visit, Ashim Ghosh
revealed.
In order to make ICDS more meaningful, more focus is
required in hill District of the state where the status of ICDS scheme is
alarming below satisfactory level as per given norms, he said. ICDS centers
must be hygienic and child friendly and moreover recommendation for more focus
on infrastructure and timely monitoring by the authorized officials is a must,
Ashim opined.
Chief Guest of the function, Chairperson of Manipur
Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MCPCR), A Nabacnadra Singh stated
that as per report of the survey “we are aware of the service delivery system
of ICDS and will help in taking up measures to improve the scheme. Social
Welfare Department too will be aware of the major gaps in the service delivery
system through the reports of the survey”.
Coordination of all the Department is a must for successful
implementation of ICDS, he asserted.
Giving the keynote address of the function Convener of
MACR, K Pradipkumar stated that ICDS’s AWC represents the world’s largest
intervention providing early childhood care and education. However the mega
scheme has no more statutory foundation as it rests on Government’s initiative,
not on legislation.
He also asserted that the need of the hour in the
state is to train and motivate all the Anganwadi Workers and Helpers in order
to invigorate their overall working environment. Adequate resources
should be made available at every AWC. Since lack of resources is a common
scenario in all the centers. Irregularities in disbursement of supplementary
nutrition and honorarium for the employees are the major challenges hampering
the quality service of the AWC.
He also added that a new revolutionized perspective,
strong political commitment and good administration is indispensable for
successful implementation of ICDS scheme.
The survey report of ICDS conducted by MACR was also
released by the chief guest of the function.
The function was also
attended by Former Member of Manipur Human Rights Commision, Ng Nongyai as the
president.
Manipur survey shows shortcomings in scheme for children
Imphal/Kolkata:
More than three and half decades since it was started, the Integrated Child
Development Scheme (ICDS) remains work-in-progress. Around 80 percent of the
centres lack a proper kitchen in Manipur, found a survey.
The
survey conducted by Manipur Alliance for Child Rights (MACR) - a state alliance
of NGOs supported by Child Rights and You (CRY) - covered 2,353 children from
80 villages across seven districts in Manipur.
Of the existing 193 ICDS centres in the sample area, a rapid assessment was
conducted on 80 centres to map the functioning status and performance of
Anganwadi centres.
The survey showed that around 80 percent of the ICDS centres surveyed were not
equipped with a proper and designated kitchen for cooking food, while only
one-fourth of the ICDS centres were running in government constructed
buildings.
It is also reported that 56.25 percent centres provide supplementary
nutritional food on a regular basis, 27.5 percent three times a week, and 8.75
percent only once in three months.
According to the respondents, 68.75 percent centres provide quality food, while
28.75 percent do not serve good quality food as per norms, and 2.5 percent dole
out "very poor quality" food.
Findings from the survey also show that 10 percent of the centres do not
provide a hot, cooked meal, and 21.25 percent distribute food grains at the
door steps.
Only 28.75 percent of ICDS centres provide additional food to the adolescent
child (between 11-18 years) as per norms, while only 8.75 percent centres
provide additional nutritional support on a regular basis.
Another interesting set of data shows that only 10 percent of the ICDS centres
have children in attendance for four hours a day, even though these are supposed
to serve as day care centres.
Of the sample, 52.75 percent ICDS centres are reported to keep
children for one to two hours, while 8.75 percent keep children for only half
an hour a day.
According to data collected, at least 10 percent of the ICDS Centres do not
have any playing material for children.
While the report shows perceptible gaps in ICDS implementation, it also throws
light on the insufficient budget allocation and lack of coordination in fund
utilisation.
On-ground data shows that a whopping 94 percent of the surveyed ICDS centres
take direct responsibility of bearing transportation costs of food materials,
and at more than 90 percent of the surveyed centres, workers do not get their
honorarium in time.
Manipur survey shows
shortcomings in scheme for children
More
than three and half decades since it was started, the Integrated Child
Development Scheme (ICDS)
remains work-in-progress. Around 80 percent of the centres lack a proper
kitchen inManipur,
found a survey.
The survey conducted by Manipur
Alliance for Child Rights (MACR) - a state alliance of NGOs supported by Child
Rights and You (CRY) - covered 2,353 children from 80 villages across seven
districts in Manipur.
Of the existing 193 ICDS centres
in the sample area, a rapid assessment was conducted on 80 centres to map the
functioning status and performance of Anganwadi centres.
The survey showed that around 80
percent of the ICDS centres surveyed were not equipped with a proper and
designated kitchen for cooking food, while only one-fourth of the ICDS centres
were running in government constructed buildings.
It is also reported that 56.25
percent centres provide supplementary nutritional food on a regular basis, 27.5
percent three times a week, and 8.75 percent only once in three months.
According to the respondents,
68.75 percent centres provide quality food, while 28.75 percent do not serve
good quality food as per norms, and 2.5 percent dole out "very poor
quality" food.
Findings from the survey also
show that 10 percent of the centres do not provide a hot, cooked meal, and
21.25 percent distribute food grains at the door steps.
Only 28.75 percent of ICDS
centres provide additional food to the adolescent child (between 11-18 years)
as per norms, while only 8.75 percent centres provide additional nutritional
support on a regular basis.
Another interesting set of data
shows that only 10 percent of the ICDS centres have children in attendance for
four hours a day, even though these are supposed to serve as day care centres.
Of the sample, 52.75 percent
ICDS centres are reported to keep children for one to two hours, while 8.75
percent keep children for only half an hour a day.
According to data collected, at
least 10 percent of the ICDS Centres do not have any playing material for
children.
While the report shows
perceptible gaps in ICDS implementation, it also throws light on the
insufficient budget allocation and lack of coordination in fund utilisation.
On-ground data shows that a
whopping 94 percent of the surveyed ICDS centres take direct responsibility of
bearing transportation costs of food materials, and at more than 90 percent of
the surveyed centres, workers do not get their honorarium in time.
Manipur survey shows
shortcomings in scheme for children –
Imphal/Kolkata:
More than three and half decades since it was started, the Integrated Child
Development Scheme (ICDS) remains work-in-progress. Around 80
percent of the centres lack a proper kitchen in Manipur, found a survey.
The survey conducted by Manipur Alliance for
Child Rights (MACR) - a state alliance of NGOs supported by Child Rights and
You (CRY) - covered 2,353 children from 80 villages across seven districts in
Manipur.
Of the existing 193 ICDS centres in the sample
area, a rapid assessment was conducted on 80 centres to map the functioning
status and performance of Anganwadi centres.
The survey showed that around 80 percent of the
ICDS centres surveyed were not equipped with a proper and designated kitchen
for cooking food,
while only one-fourth of the ICDS centres were running in government
constructed buildings.
It is also reported that 56.25 percent centres
provide supplementary nutritional
food on a regular basis, 27.5 percent three times a
week, and 8.75 percent only once in three months.
According to the respondents, 68.75 percent
centres provide quality food, while 28.75 percent do not serve good quality
food as per norms, and 2.5 percent dole out "very poor quality" food.
Findings from the survey also show that 10
percent of the centres do not provide a hot, cooked meal, and 21.25 percent
distribute food grains at the door steps.
Only 28.75 percent of ICDS centres provide
additional food to the adolescent child (between 11-18 years) as per norms,
while only 8.75 percent centres provide additional nutritional support on a
regular basis.
Another interesting set of data shows that only 10 percent of the ICDS centres have
children in attendance for four hours a day, even though these are supposed to
serve as day care centres.
Of the sample, 52.75 percent ICDS centres are
reported to keep children for one to two hours, while 8.75 percent keep
children for only half an hour a day.
According to data collected, at least 10 percent
of the ICDS Centres do not have any playing material for children.
While the report shows perceptible gaps in ICDS
implementation, it also throws light on the insufficient budget allocation and lack of
coordination in fund utilisation.
On-ground data shows that a whopping 94 percent
of the surveyed ICDS centres take direct responsibility of bearing transportation
costs of food materials, and at more than 90 percent of
the surveyed centres, workers do not get their honorarium in time.
|
Manipur survey shows shortcomings in scheme for children
|
|
|
|
IMPHAL, July 13: More than three
and half decades since it was started, the Integrated Child Development
Scheme (ICDS) remains work–in–progress. Around 80 per cent of the centres
lack a proper kitchen in Manipur, found a survey.
The survey conducted by Manipur
Alliance for Child Rights (MACR) – a State alliance of NGOs supported by
Child Rights and You (CRY) – covered 2,353 children from 80 villages across
seven districts in Manipur.
Of the existing 193 ICDS centres
in the sample area, a rapid assessment was conducted on 80 centres to map the
functioning status and performance of Anganwadi centres.
The survey showed that around 80
per cent of the ICDS centres surveyed were not equipped with a proper and
designated kitchen for cooking food, while only one–fourth of the ICDS
centres were running in government constructed buildings.
It is also reported that 56.25 per
cent centres provide supplementary nutritional food on a regular basis, 27.5
per cent three times a week, and 8.75 per cent only once in three months.
According to the respondents,
68.75 per cent centres provide quality food, while 28.75 per cent do not
serve good quality food as per norms, and 2.5 per cent dole out “very poor
quality” food.
Findings from the survey also show
that 10 per cent of the centres do not provide a hot, cooked meal, and 21.25
per cent distribute food grains at the door steps.
Only 28.75 per cent of ICDS
centres provide additional food to the adolescent child (between 11–18 years)
as per norms, while only 8.75 per cent centres provide additional nutritional
support on a regular basis.
Another interesting set of data
shows that only 10 per cent of the ICDS centres have children in attendance
for four hours a day, even though these are supposed to serve as day care
centres.
Of the sample, 52.75 per cent ICDS
centres are reported to keep children for one to two hours, while 8.75 per
cent keep children for only half an hour a day.
According to data collected, at
least 10 per cent of the ICDS centres do not have any playing material for
children.
While the report shows perceptible
gaps in ICDS implementation, it also throws light on the insufficient budget
allocation and lack of coordination in fund utilisation.
On–ground data shows that a
whopping 94 per cent of the surveyed ICDS centres take direct responsibility
of bearing transportation costs of food materials, and at more than 90 per
cent of the surveyed centres, workers do not get their honorarium in time.
(IANS)
|
ICDS
buildings in deplorable state
As per the
recent findings of Child Rights and You (CRY) and Manipur Alliance for Child
Rights (MACR), out of the 80 Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) centres
in Manipur, buildings of 75 were in deplorable condition, said senior manager
CRY, Ashim Gosh Friday.
Gosh disclosed this at the one-day state level
workshop on status ICDS in Manipur and Children‘s Right to Food.
In support to Gosh’s view, resource persons at
the workshop have also alleged that maximum number of ICDS building constructed
by the state government were in deplorable condition.
Ghosh said nutritious food were not available on
regular basis at the ICDS centres.
The survey further indicated that health check
up was also not done on regular basis at these centre, he added.
To make ICDS more meaningful, more focus is
needed in hilly areas of the state where the status of ICDS scheme far behind
the expected target and vision of the scheme, he added.
Former member of Manipur Human Rights
Commission, NG Nongyai observed the need for government authorities to take
more initiatives in welfare programmes for children and in programmes for
fighting crime against women and children in the state.
Around 9,000 anganwadi centres have been opened
in the state, but they are running for namesake only, Nongyai said.
According to him, one of the main factors for
the deteriorated conditions of the anganwadi centre was government’s failure to
give importance to the scheme.
Chairperson of Manipur Commission for Protection
of Child Rights A Nabachandra said the report presented by Manipur Alliance for
Child Rights and CRY is satisfactory.
The welfare programme undertaken by the
government under the central sponsored ICDS needed cooperation of both the
public and state government, he added.
