Ghasipura: Over 1,200 kids of 44 Anganwadi centres under Anandapur municipality have been deprived of cooked food due to irregular supply of rice.
The Central government has made provision for fostering physical and mental growth of kids between the age of 6 months and six years through Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS).
The women and child welfare department implements the ICDS through Anganwadi centres where children are imparted preprimary education, apart from being given supplementary nutrition and scope for study through games. The nutritious feeding is promoted through the Supplementary Nutrition Programme (SNP), the main component of ICDS.
This supplementary feeding consists of 300 calories and 10-12 grams of protein for children between the age of 6 months and 6 years while 500 calories and 20-25 grams of protein are meant for adolescent girls, pregnant women and nursing mothers.
Malnourished children are entitled to double supplementary feeding, as per the guidelines.
Sadly, locals here alleged that their kids have been returning hungry from Anganwadi centres most of the time for the last few months as rice supply has not been regular. Many a time, Anganwadi workers have to face the fury of guardians.
According to sources, a contractor entrusted with the task of supplying rice is not providing rice to Anganwadi centres since January. Locals claimed their children had not been given cooked food in the entire month of June.
Some Anganwadi workers, requesting anonymity, said top officials have now directed them to mange feeding the cooked food to children by borrowing rice or taking it on credit, which is not possible on their part to continue for a long term.
Anandapur child development project officer Aladi Marandi admitted the problem, saying the contractor entrusted with supplying rice is not delivering rice in time, leading to the situation. PNN
