Issues , challenges and way forward in implementation of ICDS in Tea Gardens of Assam

Assam – at a glance Area (in sq.kms.) 78438 sq. K.M. Population Census 2011 3,12,05,576 Male 1,59,39,443 Female 1,52,66,133 Scheduled Tribes 38,84,371 Scheduled Castes  22,31,321 Population (0-6 Years) 4638130 Total ICDS Projects 230 Populated villages 26395 Gram Panchayats 2202 Literacy 72.19 77.85 66.25 Density of Population 398 Sex Ratio 958 Child Sex Ratio 962 2

ICDS Services ICDS Beneficiaries Non formal Preschool Education Immunization Health checkups Referral service Supplementary Nutrition Programme Health and Nutrition Education (under the proposed ICDS Mission Mode, these services would be clubbed in to four core services). ICDS Beneficiaries Children 0-6 Years Pregnant Women and Lactating mothers. Women aged 15-45 years

TEA GROWING DISTRICTS OF ASSAM

Nos. of Tea Gardens ( Statistical Hand Book, Assam, 2013) Small Growers 1. Upto 10.12 hector 64597 Nos. Big Growers 2. Above 10.12 hector 765 Nos. 3. Area covered i. Small Growers 88674 Hect. 4. Big Growers 233536 Hect.

Issues & Challanges Poor food habits/ Alcohol & non smoked tobacco users. Lack of knowledge on proper diet & nutrition Lack of knowledge on IYCF practices Child care Religious myths and beliefs Low literacy percentage / school drop out Early marriage Subsistence economy and habit of savings Open defecation Leads to : Malnourishment Anaemia Stunting High IMR & MMR

% to district population Interventions District wise (%) of 0-6 children & nos. of Anganwadi Centres in the tea garden areas Sl No. Name of District 0-6 population % to district population No. of AWC’s in Tea Garden area 1 Kamrup(M) 125386 10.00 31 2 Goalpara 171657 17.03 5 3 Baksa 122872 12.93 17 4 Kokrajhar 136924 15.43 35 Dhubri 368262 18.89 18 6 Bongaigaon 116392 15.75 7 Sonitpur 277862 14.44 401 8 Darrang 156408 16.85 16 9 Udalguri 113274 13.62 163 10 Dhemaji 104247 15.19 11 Lakhimpur 156739 15.04 93 12 Nagaon 459940 16.29 251 13 Morigaon 163819 17.11 14 Jorhat 124594 11.41 302 15 Golaghat 134793 12.63 411 Dibrugarh 163210 12.31 354 Tinsukia 181826 13.69 430 Sivsagar 139380 12.11 312 19 Cachar 256774 14.79 301 20 Hailakandi 111278 16.88 221 21 Karimganj 211960 17.25 103 22 Dima-Hassao 32414 15.14 23 Karbi-Anglong 151681 15.86 Total 4638130 14.86 3493

Besides these already functioning AWCs, 100 additional AWCs in Dibrugarh, Sivsagar and Golaghat districts have been proposed to the Govt. of India through State Govt. exclusively for the tea garden areas. Moreover, 10475 nos. of AWCs covering all areas (including tea gardens) had already been submitted for approval to the Govt. of India.

Way forward Establishment of AWCs in all uncovered areas of tea garden. Involvement of management & community from tea garden area in AWCMC. 100% growth monitoring of all children upto 5 years. Counselling of mothers on IYCF and MCP Card Regular Home visit Sneha shivir in all tea garden areas VHND at AWCs in tea garden areas Bal Swaccha Mission for personal health and hygiene

Way forward Adolescent Health Club Organising WIFS Day and biannual deworming for out of school adolescent girls (10-19 years) Regular capacity building of mothers/adolescent girls Water, sanitation, life skill education, early marriage Management’s contribution for AWC cum Creche & ownership Land for construction of Anganwadi Centres / Kitchen Garden Convergence of Tea Garden Medical Unit for maternal and child health care.

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