Toddlers in nearly 38,000 anaganwadi centres across Jharkhand may not be as fortunate as their big brothers in schools who have been eating eggs in their mid-day meal diet.
Thanks to additional provision from the State Government, the Human Resource Development Department could muster hefty sum for the purpose in the MDM that its counterparts in Social Welfare, Women and Child Development lacks.
Notwithstanding, the Social Welfare department is under intense pressure to roll out similar protein-rich feed for babies in 3-6 years of age group attending anaganwadi centres in the State. It may be a reason why the proposal is expected to be presented before the Centre.
Social activists under the banner of ‘Right to Food Campaign’ and others are continuing with ‘Anda Abhiyan’ demanding introduction of eggs in ICDS besides strict implementation of the government order providing for three eggs a week in schools. On July 3 under the Food Campaign they fed eggs to children in over 600 anganwadis on their own to press their demand.
The activists on July 16 called upon Social Welfare Minister louis Marandi for introducing eggs two times in a week to anaganwadis. “She expressed helplessness as the Secretary has not given any such proposal or how it can be rolled out at anaganwadi centers. She was also not sure about budget inflow in this regard. We suggested that like MDM, the Tribal Sub-plan fund can be used for providing eggs. She has assured that she would discuss the matter with the CM,” said Dhreeraj Pandey, an activist closely associated with the campaign.
Incidents have come across in the State where the anganwadi children are found to be attending schools in the lust of eggs! By providing eggs in anganwadis, many children who are in the vulnerable age group would be able to enjoy them regularly and could be a vital step in the order to deal with malnutrition prevalent in the State, feels the activist.
“The Centre shares 50 per cent of the cost coming on ICDS (Integrated Child Development Scheme) under which anaganwadis are run. We get rice from FCI and the rest is managed from our side of contribution. But no increment has taken place in the ICDS allocation and there is no budget to introduce eggs at anaganwadi centers. At present there is no such proposal is under consideration before the Department,” said Mridula Sinha, Principal Secretary of the Department, who got transferred today to labour and Employment dpeartment.
However, the Principal Secretary accepted the necessity in principle and hinted that in the scheduled meeting with the Centre on ICDS such proposal can be mooted for consideration. “We in future may go to the Government of India taking the demand. A meeting is proposed on ICDS next month in which plans would be discussed. We may put up the demand before them,” added Sinha.
Currently eggs are being served to nearly 30 lakh children in 41,000 primary and secondary schools thrice a week and the provision of Rs 40 crore has been made in current fiscal for the purpose. Nevertheless, cost of extending it to over 38,000 anganwadi centers—maximum 40 children can be housed in a anganwadi—would reach somewhere around Rs 73 crore annually, if the Government decides to provide two eggs every week.
“There is urgent need to replace ready-to-eat packaged food items currently being distributed for children under the age of three years, pregnant women and lactating mothers with locally produced nutritious Take Home Rations (THR) and eggs. The Government should do anything possible in this regard,” said Balram, Jharkhand’s Advisor to the Supreme Court appointed Commissioners in the Right to Food case