Bhadrak: The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme aimed at ensuring pre-schooling, immunisation and supplementary nutrition for children and expectant mothers in rural areas, has been suffering setbacks in this district owing to vacancies and shortage of infrastructure, a report said.
There are 2,435 Anganwadi centres in the district while some of them are only on paper. Implementation of the scheme can be gauged from the ground scenario — only 879 Anganwadi centres have buildings of their own. Around 400 centres run from school buildings while 150 run from rented houses and 250 centres from community centres in villages.
Another 650 Anganwadi centres run either from the houses of Anganwadi workers or helpers. A common sight in many parts of the district is children being taught in dilapidated shanties, or verandahs of rented houses or school buildings. In some cases, children have to sit on damp floors of Anganwadi centres.
Though the women and child development department says that work of buildings for Anganwadi centres is being carried out, many have not been completed as yet.
At some villages, construction of Anganwadi buildings have been left abandoned for various reasons, including land disputes or unavailability of land or tug of war among local political leaders. In some cases, land has not been identified due to non-cooperation of tehsildars.
Lack of monitoring of Anganwadi building projects is another reason behind the tardy pace of construction, it was alleged.
The implementation of the scheme has also been marred by irregularities. For instance, at some Anganwadi centres, more rations are being lifted on the basis of inflated students’ strength.
Vacancies in the department have also adversely affected the programme. In Chandbali block, the post of child development project officer (CDPO) has been vacant for the last two years. Under this circumstance, the block development officer (BDO) has to look after the additional charge of CDPO. Locals said as the BDO is busy discharging his administrative duties, how can he get time to manage the post of CDPO.
Besides, three posts of statistical assistants have been lying vacant while only two manage the work in the entire district. Only 53 supervisors are working while 43 such posts are vacant. Surprisingly, 56 Anganwadi centres run without Anganwadi workers.
Sub-collector Narottam Behera said a meeting was held to discuss the bottlenecks hampering the progress of Anganwadi building construction. Remedial measures to remove the bottlenecks were suggested while the officials have been asked to complete the work as soon as possible, he added. PNN
