Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, Aug 21:
Democratic Students' Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) has demanded the Government to stream line the functioning of 4,501 Anganwadi centres operating in the State under Social Welfare Department (Woman and Child Development Division) as Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) of Union Ministry of Human Resource Development.
In a memorandum submitted to the Social Welfare Minister, the student body asserted that construction of the Anganwadi sheds costing Rs 1,25,000 each has not been executed as per the construction maps and guidelines of the Department.
These anomalies have been detected during the course of spot inquiries conducted by the survey teams of DESAM, the memorandum signed by its general secretary LC Santosh said.
The memorandum further pointed out that construction of 660 Anganwadi sheds in the Ist phase, 2001-02 has not been satisfactory both in quality and quantity.
All these sheds need to be reverified and re-constructed and legal action should be taken up against those responsible.
Similar, construction of 655 Anganwadi sheds in the 2nd phase, 2002-03 has also not been carried out properly, the memorandum said, lamenting that despite submission made by DESAM to DRDAs and DPOs not to released the bill of the construction not done as per official guidelines, the due amounts have been released.
In the light of the above facts, the student body maintained that it is essential on the part of the Government to issue order and take up necessary measures to ensure that the Anganwadi sheds of the 3rd phase are constructed strictly in accordance to the laid down guidelines.
Local committees should be formed to supervise and look into the construction of the Anganwadi centres and those officials in DRDA taking percentage from the contractors should be booked and punished, DESAM demanded.
Alleging that the containers of the ready to eat nutrition manufactured by Aausheena Udyog Limited, Export Promotion Industrial Park (EPIP), Amingaon, Guwahati-781031, Assam which are being distributed among the children of Anganwadi centres in Manipur are not marked with date of manufacturing, the student body demanded that distribution of the same should be stopped immediately.
The memorandum further suggested that transfer or promotion certificates from Anganwadi centres should be made compulsory at the time of admission or enrolment in the Schools under Education Department and the recruitment of workers and helpers should be done through proper notification and open DPC.
The student body also demanded releasing of medical kits, furniture, pre-school kits, TA/DTA and honoraria of the workers and helpers of Anganwadi centres before August 30 without fail.