There is propagation of a lot of misinformation regarding malfunctioning of the government scheme by the media. The AWCs in areas in and around Lucknow are better managed because they are subject to scrutiny. Other areas are totally neglected and mismanaged, especially, the AWCs in the rural areas which have no access to Officials in the State Capital.
Bundelkhand and eastern districts of Sonbhadra, Mirzapur as well as Chandauli are in the worst condition. In Uttar Pradesh and generally in the Hindi belt, there is almost no use of technology to make things easier. While states like Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Himachal Pradesh as well as Pondicherry are using the internet, U.P. lags far behind. Laptops or tablets are not provided nor is the CUG number provided, although all entries in the reports have to be done online. Information is asked for through mobile phones (Mobile Sakhi), CDs are to be prepared and photographs of the centres have to be taken and sent, yet the Supervisors have to go to cyber cafes and pay money out of their honorarium to feed data or prepare printouts of reports.
Since no Departmental Transfer Manuals have ever been prepared, the transfers made in this department are arbitrary. There is no consideration that there should be a sensitive approach towards these women workers, who are also mothers, and would have to leave their own children to be able to work.
Workers are sent to far-flung areas, which may even be at a distance of 800 k.m., while a number of workers, through their clout, are able to get their transfers stalled and continue for many years, not only in the same district, but even in the same block, although this is against the Government policy.
Hence, arbitrary transfers are often used to punish and harass the workers, based on some flimsy grounds or false complaints, so that some ‘favourites’ or those who are close to the high and mighty may be brought in. Bribes are taken for stalling transfers to the extent that transfers are made against the norms throughout the year. Transfers are also cancelled and the complicity of those in higher position is assured.
Women workers working in distant areas are offered no security, no facility for official residence and no facility for educating their children. A convenience fee has to be paid in order to opt for an area of choice.
Conclusion
The Government has to seriously take up certain important issues:
1. To be sensitive towards the problems of Women, adolescent girls and
children.
2. To stop privatization of the ICDS
3. To increase budget allocation for ICDS as per requirement
4. To make the ICDS a full-fledged Department
5. To regularize all workers of ICDS and give them the status of Government employees
6. To formulate a proper policy, keeping in view the ground reality of poverty, illiteracy and malnutrition, after a thoroughgoing review
7. To help generate an atmosphere free from fear by devising a method of
hearing the grievances of the workers directly
8. To focus on neglected districts and areas inhabited by Dalits, tribals and Minorities etc.as well as on nonperforming AWCs
9. To devise a method of work review and cadre review in ICDS
10. To have a system of giving incentives to well performing Centres and workers
11. To spread awareness about the Scheme through the electronic media
12. To properly implement universalization of ICDS
Glossary
Abysmal- extremely bad; appalling.
Spate- a large number of similar things coming in quick succession.
Purview- the scope of the influence or concerns of something.
Quantum- a discrete quantity of energy proportional in magnitude to the frequency of the radiation it represents.
Morbidity- the condition of being diseased.
Litigation- the process of taking legal action.
Remuneration- money paid for work or a service.
Dismal- causing a mood of gloom or depression
Pilfering- steal (things of little value).
Oblivious- not aware of or concerned about what is happening around one.
Retrospective- looking back on or dealing with past events or situations.
Impunity- exemption from punishment or freedom from the injurious consequences of an action.
Cadre- a small group of people specially trained for a particular
purpose or profession.
