Implementation of ICDS A Presentation By Sr. Sheeba Jose

Objectives The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme was launched in 1975 with the following objectives: To improve the nutritional and health status of children in the age- group 0-6 years; To lay the foundation for proper psychological, physical and social development of the child; To reduce the incidence of mortality, morbidity, malnutrition and school dropout; To achieve effective co-ordination of policy and implementation amongst the various departments to promote child development; and To enhance the capability of the mother to look after the normal health and nutritional needs of the child through proper nutrition and health education.

These objectives are sought to be achieved through a package of services comprising : i.Supplementary Nutrition ii.Immunization iii.Health Check-up iv.Referral Services v.Pre-school Non-formal Education vi.Nutrition and Health Education

ICDS Beneficiaries : Children below six years Expectant and Nursing Mothers Adolescent girls Women in the age group years

Financial Norms Cost of supplementary nutrition S. No.CategoryPre-revised RatesRevised Rates (per beneficiary per day) 1Children (6-72 months)Rs. 2.00Rs Severely Malnourished Children (6-72 months) Rs. 2.70Rs Pregnant Women and Nursing Mothers Rs. 2.30Rs Revised cost of supplementary nutrition by GOI, Ministry Letter no. F.No. 4-2/2008-CD.II dated

Nutritional Norms S. No.Category Pre-revised Revised (per beneficiary per day) Calories (K Cal) Protein (g) Calories (K Cal) Protein (g) 1Children (6-72 months) Severely Malnourished Children (6-72) Pregnant Women and Nursing Mothers Revised by GOI, vide Letter no. F. No. 5-9/2005-ND-Tech Vol. II dated

Supplementary Nutrition For the children, State/ UTs have been requested to make arrangements to serve Hot Cooked Meal in AWCs under the ICDS Scheme. Since a child is not capable of consuming a meal of 500 calories in one sitting, the States/ UTs are advised to consider serving more than one meal to the children who come to AWCs. Since the process of cooking and serving hot cooked meal takes time, and in most of the cases, the food is served around noon, States/ UTs may provide 500 calories over more than one meal. States/ UTs may arrange to provide a morning snack in the form of milk/banana/egg/seasonal fruits/ micronutrient fortified food etc.

S. No.State/UTReleased (As on ) 1 Andhra Pradesh Bihar Chhattisgarh Goa Gujarat Haryana Himachal Pradesh Jammu & Kashmir Jharkhand Karnataka Kerala Madhya Pradesh Maharashtra Orissa Punjab Rajasthan Tamil Nadu Uttar Pradesh Uttarakhand Statement showing release of funds for Supplementary Nutrition during the year (Rs. in Lakh)

20 West Bengal A & N Islands Chandigarh Dadra & N Haveli Daman & Diu Lakshadweep Delhi Pondicherry Arunachal Pradesh Assam Manipur Meghalaya Mizoram Nagaland Sikkim Tripura Total

STATEMENT SHOWING STATE-WISE POSITION OF FUNDS RELEASED AND EXPENDITURE REPORTED UNDER ICDS SCHEME (GENERAL) DURING YEAR TO (upto ) S. No.STATEFunds released Exp. Reported by StatesFunds released 1ANDHRA PRADESH BIHAR CHHATTISGARH GOA * GUJARAT HARYANA HIMACHAL PRADESH * JAMMU & KASHMIR JHARKHAND KARNATAKA KERALA MADHYA PRADESH MAHARASHTRA * ORISSA PUNJAB RAJASTHAN TAMIL NADU UTTARAKHAND UTTAR PRADESH WEST BENGAL

* Yet to be reported 21DELHI PONDICHERRY ANDAMAN & NICOBAR CHANDIGARH D. & NAGAR HAVELI DAMAN & DIU LAKSHADWEEP62.87 * LIC * ARUNACHAL PRADESH ASSAM MANIPUR MEGHALAYA MIZORAM NAGALAND SIKKIM * TRIPURA Total

Honorarium for AWW/ AWH Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) & Anganwadi Helpers (AWHs), being honorary workers, are paid a monthly honoraria as decided by the Government from time to time. Government of India has enhanced the honoraria of these Workers, w.e.f by Rs.500 above the last honorarium drawn by Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) and by Rs.250 of the last honorarium drawn by Helpers of AWCs and Workers of Mini-AWCs. Prior to enhancement, AWWs were being paid a monthly honoraria ranging from Rs. 938/ to Rs. 1063/- per month depending on their educational qualifications and experience. Similarly, AWHs were being paid monthly honoraria of Rs. 500/- In addition to the honoraria paid by the Government of India, many States/UTs are also giving monetary incentives to these workers out of their own resources for additional functions assigned under other Schemes.

STATEMENT INDICATING STATE WISE INFORMATION REGARDING ADDL.HONORARIUM TO AWWS/AWHS S.No.Name of State/UTAddl Honorarium to WWsAddl Honorarium to WHs 1GOA * # 2HARYANA HIMACHAL PRADESH J & K KARNATAKA KERALA400 7MAHARASHTRA SIKKIM PUNJAB TAMIL NADU TRIPURA WEST BENGAL400 13DELHI PONDICHERRY A & N ISLAND CHANDIGARH LAKSHADWEEP JHARKHAND D& N HAVELI DAMAN & DIU GUJARAT Nil 22ORISSA Nil 23CHHATTISGARH Nil 24ANDHRA PRADESH UTTARANCHAL UTTAR PRADESH

Present Scenario of AWCs in UP A Case Study of Allahabad Slum

Sahyog conducted a field survey in the slums of Allahabad to analyze the present scenario of the functioning of Aanganwadi services. ICDS is basically a community based programme, therefore, apart from what the Anganwadi workers and helpers have informed about their centers, it is equally important to ascertain the perception of community in order to understand the functioning of the Anganwadi centers in its right perspective. Therefore, 58 AWC were randomly selected to get an overview of functioning of the scheme. The same number of related communities of the same areas (a group of people comprising of pregnant and lactating women, children of 5-6 yrs age group, parents of children, adolescent girls) were also interviewed.

Anganwadi Center at a Glance Main findings of the survey

Out of total 58 selected anganwadi centers 12 (i.e. 21 per cent) were found close on the day of the survey. Only at the 60 per cent of the centers the AWW (Anganwadi Workers) were present while rest of all the centers were running by the AWH (Anganwadi Helpers). During the day of the survey 20 per cent of the centers were found where the children were not present while at the 80 per cent of the centers the number of children was very less or sometimes almost insignificant (one or two). An anganwadi is expected to run for 4 ½ hours but majority (45 per cent) of the centers is working for only 2 hours. None of the AWC was found that works for more than 3 ½ hours a day.

A very significant proportion of the centers (36 per cent) were not having the medical kit while at the 6 per cent centers the medicines were found expired. Usually the medicines were found unused. Only 24 per cent AWC have toilet facility at the center for the children. According to Supreme Court guidelines every AWC has to weigh children once in a month but only 7 per cent AWC were found where the weighing machine was functioning properly. At approximate 31 per cent of the centers, they failed to present any kind of properly maintained documents as everything was maintained by the Anganwadi workers at home who rarely visit the centers. At the most of the centers the number of children present in the register are always more than the number of children actually present at the centre. The expired Medicine Blank Food-stock Register Blank Immunization Register

In 40 per cent surveyed areas they never get any kind of benefits except sometime a very meager amount of Panjiri ( also called Poshit aahar). According to Supreme Court guidelines every AWC has to organize periodically mothers’ meeting (expectant and lactating mothers), community mobilization especially of mothers and adolescent girls but none of the center organizes such activities. None of the respondent reported of any of the adolescent girls that have got benefit from any of the Anganwadi schemes. A very significant proportion of the community (42 per cent) informed that the pregnant and lactating women never get benefited in terms of vaccination and counseling through the related AWC. Majority (66 per cent) of the surveyed parents/ guardians reported that the AWW never conduct any PSE activities.

About 47 per cent surveyed areas, people reported that the distribution of food is very irregular in the center. About 60 per cent of the community surveyed reported that children get a very small quantity of panjiri which is insufficient for their diet. These centers most of the time distribute only panjiri while a very small proportion of the community informed that few centers sometimes also give khichri and halwa. 64 per cent of beneficiaries rated the quality of food given by AWC is poor while only 36 per cent rated it of average quality. The food, in general, was found rotten, infected with worms and fungus.

Public Hearing on ICDS Malfunctioning of ICDS Centers in Allahabad Slums In order to initiated a debate on all these issues Sahyog organized a public hearing at St. Joseph’s College ground on 15th of December, 2009 at 12 noon. Affected residents of slums in the city put forth their grievances regarding the mal-functioning of ICDS programme in their respective areas before the ADM Civil Supplies and CDPO, Allahabad.

People from the slum areas put forth their complaints in the presence of ADM Civil Supplies and CDPO regarding the mal-functioning of ICDS: Aanganwadi workers never come to the center. Irregular timing of the center. Food distribution is insufficient and very irregular; often it is stopped for 2-3 months. Quality of supplementary food is inferior. Benefits to the adolescent girls, pregnant and lactating mothers are improper. Anganwadi worker never visit the area. Visit of ANM for vaccination is erratic. Anganwadi centers never organize meetings of mothers and adolescent girls.

Relief : Based on the primary survey and Public Hearing we requested to grant the following relief : Implement the increased money (Rs. 4 per day per child, etc.) in UP. Raise the honorarium of the teachers. Implement the Supreme Court Guidelines, 2006 to give hot meal to the children. Grant better infrastructure to the ICDS centers.