To ensure undernutrition is kept in check, the State issued a circular in end of March for home delivery of entitlements under the ICDS (Integrated Child Development Services) scheme. According to the circular, the Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) are going door-to-door for home delivery of dry rations at this pandemic Covid 19 time.
The AWW are supposed to provide dry ration for Take Home Ration (THR) under the Supplementary Nutrition Programme (SNP) as well as for Hot Cooked Meals (HCM) under SNP. The HCM is provided to children aged 3-6 years for six days per week at Anganwadi Centres but since AWCs are closed, there is dry ration being provided for that too.
Principal Secretary of Women and Child Department (WCD), Odisha, Anu Garg has said even as Anganwadi centres in Odisha are closed, supply of food under Supplementary Nutrition Programme is continuing. “We are monitoring supply of rations, eggs and morning snacks to all centres and ensuring that the beneficiaries are provided with their required nutrition uninterruptedly. Rations are provided to all beneficiaries at their households without any fail,” she said.
Garg has said that Anganwadi workers and self-help group (SHG) workers are working as the foot soldiers in this fight and have turned into the eyes and ears of the administration at this critical moment. “Although the Anganwadi Centres were closed in this extraordinary situation, the Anganwadi workers have not stopped providing services to the mothers and children. While their usual duty is to improve the nutrition of women and children, they are now going door to door, recording people’s travel history, noting flu symptoms and, where needed, even helping trace contacts. They are monitoring the health of children, pregnant and lactating women while providing them with nutrition,” she added.
AWWs, who are already considered champions who fight against malnutrition at the village or gram panchayat level, are now emerging as a vital link in the fight against COVID 19 too. In addition to providing dry ration from door-to-door, they are also educating the community about the best practices to fight against COVID 19.
Some of the common messages that the AWWs are giving include regular hand washing (for 20 seconds at least), social distancing, avoid touching face, eyes, nose and mouth and wearing a mask or covering mouth while sneezing or coughing.
Garg said that over 72,500 Anganwadi workers have been engaged in door to door delivery of dry ration and eggs to the beneficiaries. “They are playing an important role in distribution of essential commodities, old age pension and awareness drive. Besides, they are preparing health database with coordination of ASHAs, persuading people for home quarantine," she said.
“It is important to appreciate and acknowledge the efforts of frontline workers during these times. At the same, the Government needs to ensure that maternal healthcare services like ANCs are not affected and still accessible ” said associate director at IPE Global Neha Saigal.
In Angul, members of community-led movement Angul Pusti Adhikar Abhiyan (APAA) have been assisting Anganwadi workers to spread the message of fighting Coronavirus far and wide.
Convener, APAA, Aditya Mohapatra believes it is important to not ignore under nutrition in these times as it puts the vulnerable populations at risk. “The AWWs are the real champions, who continue to do their duty relentlessly. They are no less than the doctors and nurses who at the frontline fighting COVID 19,” he said.