Prior to the financial year 2005-06 the Centre was providing 100 % financial assistance to all component services of the ICDS, except supplementary nutrition, which was taken care of by the States/UTs. But it was seen that states were not spending adequately, resulting in poor performance in reducing malnutrition. Therefore In 2005-06 it was decided that the Centre would share 50% of the expenditure in supplementary nutrition by the State.
But in 2009-10, the sharing pattern further changed. So the sharing between the Centre and North East Indian States was altered from 50:50 to 90:10. For all other states/UTs, including Uttar Pradesh, it was maintained at 50:50. However, as regards the other components the aid was reduced from 100% Central assistance to 90:10. The budgetary allocation for ICDS was slashed from Rs. 1800 crore in July 2014 budget to Rs.800 crore in the 2015 Union Budget while the budget for mid-day meals was decreased from Rs. 3000 crore to Rs. 1200 crores. The remaining expenses had to be managed by states/UTs.
In Ghoerni village of Shamli district of U.P., village elder Yogendra Kumar said, "Every single day, inedible khichdi is delivered to the three aanganwadi centres in our village. The intended beneficiaries are not aware of such a programme and those who know, find the food inedible. Ultimately, the khichdi is fed to the cattle every day."
Infrastructure
The infrastructure is also not up to the mark. For
example, the Central Government has also made population norms as follows for
Anganwadi/Mini Anganwadi Centres in Rural and Urban Areas:
|
Serial No. |
Population |
Anganwadi Centre/Mini |
|
1. |
400-800 |
1 AWC |
|
2. |
800-1600 |
2 AWCs |
|
3. |
1600-2400 |
3AWCs |
|
4. |
Added Multiples of 800 |
1 AWC |
|
5. |
150-400 |
1 Mini AWC |
|
Tribal, riverine, desert, hilly |
||
|
6. |
300-800 |
1AWC |
|
150-300 |
1 mini AWC |
It is clear
that the population norms, even if followed, are unscientific. Besides this,
many of the AWCs are non-functional.
