People's Democracy

  CLARION CALL ECHOES: REGULARISE ICDS

Over A Crore Signatures Presented To HRD Ministry

A section of anganwadi's at the national convention in New Delhi

AMIDST chanting of slogans, with a truckload of signatures supportive of their key demand in the backdrop, a ‘National Convention on Regularisation of ICDS’ was held by the All India Federation of Anganwadi Workers and Helpers (AIFAWH) on April 26 in the lawns of Vithal Bhai Patel House in New Delhi. Around 6000 anganwadi workers from 19 states in the country participated in the convention, which was presided over by Neelima Maitra, president of the federation.

The convention adopted a unanimous resolution, which was moved by Hemalata, general secretary of the federation demanding that the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme, which was started around 30 years back be regularised as a regular part of the Women and Child Development department of the human resources development (HRD) ministry and that the anganwadi workers and helpers be recognised as Grade III and Grade IV employees of the government.

The resolution was seconded by Subha (Maharashtra). In support of the resolutions, the federation functionaries from various states took part in the deliberations and stressed upon the urgency for heightening the united movement of anganwadi workers countrywide. Among those who spoke in the convention included Hargobind Kaur (Punjab), Prem (Himachal), Lalitamma (AP), Ratna Dutta (West Bengal) and Kishori Verma (MP).

Ms (Dr) Syeda Hameed, member, Planning Commission while addressing the convention as chief guest, stressed upon the need for strengthening the anganwadi centres by developing them into daycare-cum-creches which would help in brining down the school drop out rate among girl children, besides being instrumental in improving the basic human development indicators.

Later, a mass memorandum supporting these demands, for which over one crore signatures were collected from the beneficiaries through out the country, was presented to the HRD ministry by a delegation of leaders of the federation.

In a resolution, the convention welcomed the announcement of the government on opening 1,88,168 new anganwadi centres in the current year and on doubling the supplementary nutrition norms along with the commitment that half of it would be borne by the government of India. Given the Supreme Court judgement, which requires opening of anganwadi centres in all the habitations, this number is much low felt the convention. At present 6,49,000 anganwadi centres are functioning, while a total of around 14,00,000 anganwadi centres would be required to cater to all the needy children, pregnant and lactating mothers in the country.

The convention expressed dissatisfaction at the government not taking any measures to institutionalise the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme and strengthen it for the overall development of children and women.

The resolution underscored the importance of giving top priority to the overall development of children and the nutrition and health of the pregnant and lactating mothers in order to develop a healthy future population fit to develop the country as an advanced nation.

Noting the utilisation of anganwadi workers for implementation of various other schemes and programmes because of the close relationship of the anganwadi employees with the people, the resolution felt their involvement in these additional activities, which are sometimes unrelated to the objectives of the ICDS, increased their work load several times. This was also creating difficulties and hurdles in the proper functioning of the anganwadi centres. However this also proved that in practice the anganwadi centres have over the years evolved into effective delivery centres for a variety of services benefiting the population.

That is why the resolution asserted that “it is high time that the ICDS is institutionalised and converted into a regular department or an integral part of the Women and Child Development Department of the government, instead of as a scheme. The anganwadi centres must be further strengthened from where the various programmes of the government for women’s empowerment, and for the overall development of children and women in the area should be carried out.  The anganwadi workers and helpers, who are already involved in providing these services should be regularised as employees of the department and provided all the benefits and facilities due to them.”

The convention extended its heartfelt gratitude to the overwhelming response of the beneficiaries of the ICDS to the above demands, which was reflected in the collection of around 1 crore signatures from beneficiaries all over the country for the memorandum to be submitted to the HRD ministry with the above demands. It assured them that anganwadi employees all over the country will carry forward the campaign to achieve these demands and looks forward to their continued support.

The convention called upon all anganwadi workers and helpers in the country to unite and launch campaigns and struggles on the demand for Regularisation of ICDS. It also appealed to all the trade unions, organisations of women, agricultural workers, peasants and other sections of the people and all sections of society to support the above demands and the struggles of the anganwadi employees to achieve these. (INN)