- Home
- Jammu
Anganwadis in J-K running in dilapidated buildings
Subodh Bhasin. Dated: 5/16/2019 11:32:30 AM
Subodh Bhasin
Jammu, May 15
Even after several years of implementation, several Anganwadi Centres are running in dilapidated buildings. Several Anganwadi center (AWC) in J&K lack basic infrastructure.
Materials and Methods thereby effecting success of Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) program in tackling maternal and childhood problems still remain a matter of concern.
At present there are more than 29,000 anganwadi centers in J&K and almost 35% of which run from dilapidated buildings. It is pertinent to mention here that anganwadi centres functioning under the flagship scheme Integrated Child Development Service (ICDS) and J&K are among the eight states with highest number of such centers functioning from poorly structured buildings.
This has been revealed by the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development. As per the reports Arunachal Pradesh tops the list with all its anganwadis operating out of kutcha buildings. The states that have poorly maintained anganwadis are — Manipur (68 per cent), West Bengal (37 per cent), J&K (35 per cent) Madhya Pradesh (27 per cent), Karnataka (26 per cent), Jharkhand (22 per cent), and Bihar (20 per cent).
Although the report stated that that 97 per cent of sanctioned anganwadis were operational in all states/ union territories, except in J&K, where only 93 per cent were operational, and Bihar, with only 80 per cent anganwadis operational.
Further from 2015 despite repeated reminders by the Union ministry to the state authorities to take necessary steps and come at par with other states in terms of percentage of such centres operating, there has been no change.
J&K (63 per cent) is also among the four states which had received less than 70 per cent budget to run the centrally sponsored scheme. Other states receiving less funds are Nagaland (58 per cent), Uttar Pradesh (64 per cent) and West Bengal (67 per cent), sources added.
Another cause of concern for the state is several posts of anganwadi workers and anganwadi helpers are lying vacant since 2015.