news details |
|
|
| J&K fails to implement ICDS scheme; Planning Commission finds Anganwadi Centers deficient, workers 'lethargic' | | 'Periodic increase in honorarium recommended' | | Syed Junaid Hashmi
Jammu, Oct 12: Centrally sponsored Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) has failed to improve nutritional status of the children in Jammu and Kashmir.
Due to lack of nutrition items in the ICDS Centres, pre-schooling has become a casualty, because many parents send their children to Anganwadi Centers (AWCs) mainly for supplementary nutrition. The scheme was not in a position to help majority of the women to receive ante-natal care services and health education, as only a limited number of women were informed by Anganwadi workers about ante-natal care services, child immunization, management of diahorrea and methods of family planning.
Government failed to create an effective mechanism for keeping a check on the officials involved in the implementation of the scheme. Owing to this, the scheme lost track and did not benefit people of Jammu and Kashmir on the expected lines. ICDS programme was not in a position to achieve its objectives to the desired level. Not only the coverage of the services was low, but the scheme was not in a position to provide Supplementary Nutrition (SN) to beneficiaries throughout the year.
This dismal picture has been painted by planning commission of India in one of its report on the implementation of ICDS scheme in Jammu and Kashmir, a copy of the report is with Early Times. The report maintains that there was lack of coordination between various Departments engaged in implementation of the Scheme viz., Health, Rural Development, Education and Social Welfare. It was observed that lack of coordination was one of the major reasons for under performance of the ICDS.
Another important reason for tardy implementation of ICDS was non-availability of adequate supervisory staff. Based on the findings, commission has asked the Jammu and Kashmir Government to improve implementation of the programme by filling up all vacant positions of the CDPOs and ACDPOs at the earliest so that the scheme does not suffer any more. This will help in proper planning, implementation, supervision and monitoring of the scheme.
Commission has said that all the departments must regularly coordinate and meet the expectations from each other department while adding that all vacant positions of the Supervisors should be filled up at the earliest so that supervision and monitoring is strengthened both in the urban and rural areas. It has recommended for involving Panchayats in planning, monitoring and supervision of the AWCs.
Regarding the Anganwadi workers, PCI has said that they should be selected on the basis of their merit and educational competence since it will go a long way in delivering the AWCs services in effective and constructive manner. The commission has recommended periodic increase in the honorariums besides ensuring that AWC becomes a point where both demand is created and services are delivered.
Commission has said that provision of providing Supplementary Nutrition in AWCs should be increased to 300 days. Further, calorific requirements for different target groups of population should be respected. Besides, supplies should be regularized and storage facilities in the AWCs should be improved. More emphasis should be given to local tastes, menus and cooked food.
It has concluded by recommending adequate provisions for procuring of relevant teaching and learning aids while adding that provisions should also be made for suitable accommodation along with matting and heating provisions at each AWC. There is also a need to develop and strengthen coordination with the local primary schools to seek their support and especially with the primary wing of the ZEO for monitoring purposes. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
