Food being snatched from children's mouth

This piece was carried in the GRASSROOTS in December 2010 issue.

Food being snatched from children's mouth

Weight of the children is not taken regularly and children with severe malnourishment are not taken to hospital in time of need

PRADEEP BAISAKH, Odisha

Food meant for the children from 0-6 age group and for the pregnant women and lactating mothers are being siphoned away by the vested interest constituting the officials involved in implementation of the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) and the transport agents of the food grains, alleged the victims who testified before a gathering of 900 people from across Balangir district and a group of Jury and observers constituting eminent citizens of the state.

In a Public Hearing held in Town Hall in Balangir on 2nd November 2010 by the District level People’s Organisation, about 16 women and men presented their stories on how they have been victimised and deprived of getting the entitlements due to them under ICDS that aims at maintaining the nutrition levels of the infants, pre-school going children, the pregnant women, lactating mothers and adolescent girls. Several complaints about non-availability of food grains and medical treatment to the needy population due to non-existence of Anganwadi Centres (AWCs), non-supply of adequate food grains, delayed delivery of services, supply of poor quality of food grains, involvement of large scale corruption etc came to fore during the public hearing.

People shared their grievances

Smt Sakhi Mahanand from Naagaon village of the district complained that during her first pregnancy, she was not provided with any support from the AWCs in her village, nor any support came to her children after birth. During her second pregnancy also she did not get any help. Only after the birth of her second female child, Prativa, she (child) is getting only rice, but no pulses and soyabin, supposed to be provided under the scheme.

Under ICDS, a child is supposed to get a daily quote of food grain of 80 grams of rice, 30 grams of pulses and 10 grams of soyabin. Her child has also been deprived of being taken regular weight as provided under the scheme. She complained that due to inadequate food intake, both she and her children have become too weak and her children are never taken to the hospital for medication despite their frail health.

Ms Pankajini Bagarti from Bankiamunda village under Balangir block/district companied of non-functioning of the AW in her village. Weight of the children is not taken regularly and children with sever malnourishment are not taken to the hospital in time of need. She companied that in recent occurrence of diarrhoea, where about 60 people were affected, some of whom were so serious that they were taken to Balangir hospital, the Anganwadi Worker visited the village only after the visit of the doctor from far flung.

Saraswati Bhoi from Kurtula village under Patnagarh block of the district complained that she was never invited to the monthly meeting of the Matru Mangal committee despite her being a member of the committee. Her complaint about lackadaisical performance of the centre has never been heeded by the Anganwadi didi.

Surendra Juel from Bhoipali village under Luisinga block of the district submitted that in August when no service was provided by the AWC to the women and children of the village, they demanded the same from the AW worker. But the latter denied taking the plea that nothing has come from above. The matter was taken to the notice of the AW Supervisor and then to the CDPO but to no result. The collector’s notice was drawn to the problem who assured for immediate action, but no such action has been taken despite two months time passed. Ironically, the Programme Officer Ms Bharati Patel of the DSWO (District Social Welfare Office), who was present in the meeting expressed ignorance of the case.

Banchhanidhi Rout and wife Nuadei Rout from Muribahal block are old couple of above 70. They have absolutely no government support like PDS or old age pension. Son is a TB patient and cannot support the family. They literally have to depend on begging and go empty stomach many a times.

Ms Padmini Samrath from Barbahali village under Belpada block, Ms Padmini Nag from Jhariamunda village under Belpada block and Ms Hemabati Bag of Amabanji village under Behramunda GP complained that their villages have no AWCs.

Photo: Banchhanidhi and Nuadei Rout (Photo by Pradeep Baisakh)

Study findings on ICDS

Jatin Patra, the organiser of the hearing, while briefing the findings of a study conducted on the functioning of ICDS in the district, told that only 10% of the AWCs are showing performances as per expectations; 40% of AWCs have no own buildings; dalits are discriminated in the AWCs and there is dilution in service both in terms of quantity and quality. Despite migration of a large number of people for the district and children from the district, the government registers show presence of all the beneficiaries.

Suggestion for improvement

Panchanan Kanungo, former Finance Minster of Odisha, who was present as a jury member in the public hearing suggested for creation of storage facilities in every Gram Panchayats to tackle the problems of delayed delivery of food grains near the ICDS beneficiaries. Rajkishore Mishra, State Advisor to the Supreme court Commission of Right to food opined that the food grain should be procured at the block levels e.g. pulses could be colleted from the self help groups (SHGs) who have been given pulses processing machines. That will dispense the need of transport agents. Ms Sneha Mishra, a social activist, said to bring progressively the children with disabilities actively into the fold of ICDS in practice. Narayan Pruseth, academician and columnist, suggested having an integrated and special programme for tackling high level of malnutrition prevailing in Balangir district.

Photo: Public Hearing on ICDS (Photo by Duleswar Budek)

Ms Teba Sagria, leader of people’s organisation lamented on the irregular opening of AW centres and dissatisfactory delivery of service to the pregnant mothers.

Some activists stressed the need for displaying all information relating to the scheme in the AWCs and addressing the systemic issues involving the functioning of the scheme. It was understood that there exits an unholy nexus among officials, politicians and the transport agents, who supply the food grain to the ICDS who together siphon a large chunk of resources in form of black marketing etc.

Programme Officer Ms Bharati Patel of the DSWO that is responsible for implementation of ICDS in the district, took note of all the complaints and assured to take up the issues with the DSWO.