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| 80% Anganwari Centers of SW department non functional' | | Secretary SWD criticizes self, policies | | Akshay Azad
ET Report
Jammu, Dec 27: Secretary Jammu and Kashmir Social Welfare Department (JKSWD) Mohammad Shafi Rather today went on self criticism mode and picked up holes in various schemes run by his department and also expressed concern over dilly delaying attitude of governments for their failure to frame even policies for underprivileged classes including widows, specially able, children, old age beside others in the last six decades.
Only four days are left for his superannuation and Secretary SWD Mohammad Shafi Rather (IAS) this time listened to his heart rather than mind and without any hesitation he picked up holes in schemes meant for weaker sections, while addressing a gathering of SWD district officers, CDPOs and field functionaries.
Taking the example of Anganwari Centers being run under Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS), Shafi Rather said that according to guidelines, an Anganwari Center must be opened in the house of Anganwari worker.
"But according to guidelines for selection of an Anganwadi worker, we have to pick up the most under-privileged Below Poverty Line (BPL) person. That BPL worker generally has one room house where, all family members live, used as kitchen and in some cases even cattle are also found in the same room. How can you imagine toilet facility in the worker's house ? Moreover, the weak financial condition of worker compels him/her to consume grains meant for children under scheme", he said and castigated that on one hand government has been talking about Swatch Bharat Abhiyaan (SBA) but seemed totally unaware of ground realities.
Going further, Secretary said that if the worker came to know about visit of some officer in the Center, few children were bring together for showing them to the visiting officer. "The ICDS has become an avenue of employment generation for government but the scheme has failed to serve masses for which it was meant", he said.
Without hesitation, Shafi Rather said that across the state only 10 percent of Anganwari Centers were in working condition while remaining 80 percent were non-functional.
"Especially in Jammu and Srinagar, wherein there are hundreds of Anganwadi Centers but in papers only but I think no one is working", Shafi said, without mincing any words.
He was speaking in a function organized by his department in coordination with Save the Child, an NGO for state level consultation on "State Child Policy in J&K", which is in process of formation.
Mohammad Shafi Rather, also went on self criticism mode and said that the non-functional Anganwari Centers was also failure of department and also his own, as he served the department for nearly one and half years.
To rectify the schemes, he further said, he had also sent a format to all district officers and other field functionaries for getting details of scheme implementation but same format was not returned to him. "You all have praised me but I personally feel that I have failed", he said.
Picking holes in government functioning, Shafi Rather further said that when he had joined the department, he observed that a file pertaining to Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) was lying in department and when he had asked for file, there were some political directions for not signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
"When I go into depth of the file, I came to know that a line on adoption of child was objectionable for politicians, due to which file was pending. I suggested for deletion of paragraph in the file, after which a MOU was signed in Delhi and now Union government has approved nearly Rs 90 Crores for ICPS", Shafi elaborated, adding that ICPS was also a part of action plan as it has also a limited reach.
Elaborating further on hiccups in administrative working, Shafi Rather further said that he had forwarded Policy for Disabled twice to government for cabinet approval but same was returned back with queries.
He further said that State Child Policy in J&K was in the process of formulation that too after nearly six decades of Social Welfare department formation, adding, "It is surprising that after lapse of six decades since the formation of department we have no policy for Women and Policy for Disable was formulated some months back, but same is not approved by Cabinet".
Concluding his address, Shafi Rather said that State Child Policy has been finalized, after which same would be sent to all government departments. "It is not the single department's effort but a concerted effort from all the government departments is needed for protection of underprivileged classes including women, specially able, child, old age etc", he said. |
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