Govt to appoint officers to inspect anganwadi centres

HYDERABAD: Waking up to intense criticism by the comptroller and auditor general's report on inadequate delivery of services to the eligible beneficiaries, the state government has now decided to appoint special officers to inspect the aganwadi centres in the state.
The CAG in its latest report had pointed out that there was a shortage of 26,362 anganwadi centres (AWC) which amounts to about 20 per cent in tribal areas and 28 per cent in rural areas.Even two urban projects in Ranga Reddy district and 9,743 AWCs in the state sanctioned during 2008 by the Centre were yet to become operational.
According to officials, the implementation of the ICDS project had received a setback on account of non availability of anganwadi workers and helpers in about 3,000 centres across the state. The main reason for shortage of workers was due to lack of interest shown by elected representatives of the state as these workers are selected by a committee in which local MLAs are members. The committee is headed by the district collector. But since the MLAs failed to attend the meetings, the process of selection could not take place.
This had resulted in failure to achieve the targets set for the period 2005-10.
There is a proposal to set up 10,000 new anganwadi centres in the state but unless the special officers come up with an action plan, even this may remain on paper.
According to the CAG report, though the department of women and child welfare was given a total fund of Rs 3,633 crore by the state and another Rs 1,966 crore by the Centre, it had spent only Rs 850 crore last year.
The report also indicated that the government had failed to take measures to strengthen the centres and take care of the nutritional requirements of pregnant and lactating women. There was a shortfall in enrolment of eligible beneficiaries of 6-23 per cent under the supplementary nutrition programme (SNP).