ICDS scheme in mess Nearly 90 pc anganwadi centres run from rented buildings in J&K
The Centre’s flagship programme, Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme for early childhood care and development, is in a mess in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir as nearly 90 percent
Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) are functioning in rented accommodations having limited facilities for children.
The AWCs operating in rented accommodations are functioning either in a single room due to space crunch or don’t have inadequate infrastructure for young children.
According to the official statistics, the total number of reporting AWCs in Jammu and Kashmir is 20,429 out of which only 2,280 centres have their own buildings while 18,016 are functioning from rented accommodations.
“In Jammu district, as many as 1,690 AWCs out of the total 2,013 are functioning in rented buildings, while all the 15 reported centers in Kishtwar districts don’t have their own buildings. Of all 1,110 reported AWCs in Poonch district, at-least 1033 centres don’t have their own buildings and functioning in rented buildings while just 75 centres out of the total 1,245 AWCs have their own buildings in Kathua,” the statistics revealed.
The statistics said that the government of India has sanctioned a total of 30,765 AWCs out of which 28,078 centres are operational in Jammu and Kashmir.
As per the guidelines, the AWC should have basic infrastructure, including a sitting room for children, a kitchen and 600 square feet of playing area for children, along with child friendly drinking and toilet facilities.
Last year, over five lakhs children (in the age group of 6 months to 6 years) were the beneficiaries of Supplementary Nutrition (SNP) in Jammu and Kashmir.
“The government of Jammu and Kashmir has approved the construction of 863 AWCs under MGNREGS out of which none of the structures has been constructed till date. Information with regard to the completion or under progress status of construction AWC buildings has not been received from J&K. Therefore, the same has been considered as under progress,” the Centre said in a document tabled in the Parliament.
It said that joint guidelines have been issued by Ministry of Women and Child Development and Ministry of Education directing the state governments and UT administrations to co-locate those AWCs which are running on rent or without sufficient infrastructure, to the nearby primary schools. “There is also a provision of construction of AWCs in convergence with MGNREGS,” it said.
Pertinently, the beneficiaries under the ICDS scheme are children in the age group of 0-6 years, pregnant women and lactating mothers. The prime objectives of the Scheme are to improve the nutritional and health status of children, lay the foundation for proper psychological, physical and social development of the child and reduce the incidence of mortality, morbidity, malnutrition and school dropout.
