The Anganwari scheme of the Government is not functioning as desired in the mountainous regions of the State. Though the Government is spending considerable amount of funds on this system, this facility is limping in the mountainous districts of Uttarakhand.
Questions are being raised about the quality of nutritious diet given to children in the 3 to 6 years age group but the authorities are turning a blind eye to such concerns. There are a total of 104 Anganwari centres in the border area Joshimath block.
There are many centres where infants are kept under the open skies while there are some centres where the children are made to sit in damp rooms with leaking ceilings and walls.
Most of the centres are being operated in primary school and Panchayat buildings. The parents living in urban areas send their children to private nursery schools but those in rural areas do not have this choice. The quality of nutritious food served to pregnant women and children in the centres is questionable.
However, the officials concerned have not got the quality of this food checked to ascertain whether it meets the quality standards set by the Government. Villagers complain that this nutritious food is fit for cattle and not humans.
Under the Integrated Child Development Services, the Government provides `1 4 per head for cooked food served to children in the 3 to 6 years. However, departmental officials State that this amount is too less to provide a balanced diet to children. In the past the children were fed porridge, grams and biscuits but now the diet has deteriorated.
Though departmental figures state that the centres are being visited by a considerable number of children, only a couple of children can be seen in most centres. locals complain that the condition of Government services aimed at ensuring good health of children and pregnant women is not as good as publicised by the Government.