Frame strategy to upgrade quality at creches, anganwadis: Maneka

Union Minister of Women and Child Development Maneka Sanjay Gandhi  on Tuesday held a meeting with the Indian Council for Child Welfare (ICCW) members in the national Capital. 

The meeting was called to discuss the problems being faced by the members in running crèches 

under the Ministry’s creche scheme and training Anganwadi workers under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme. 

The ICCW runs 5,300 crèches in 450 districts across the country.  The members highlighted the problem of low honorarium being given to crèche workers and helpers, difficulty in setting up of crèches in conflict areas and outstanding dues to Anganwadi trainers by state governments, among others issues.

Gandhi has asked them to submit a formal representation to the Ministry, giving details of  the issues and suggest the action needed, so that the matter can be taken up with the Finance Ministry and the state governments concerned.

The Minister expressed concern over non-payment of dues to  Anganwadi workers. She said it is serious that state governments are adopting a careless and irresponsible attitude towards making timely payments to Anganwadi trainers for the services rendered by them.  Gandhi assured ICCW members that the Ministry would get in touch with all states and write to those, which are not making timely payment to Anganwadi workers. 

She also took <g data-gr-id="40">serious</g> view on the working of ICDS on the last so many year which has resulted in high malnutrition level in children. She said the training being imparted to Anganwadi workers is not up to the mark as they lack knowledge on cleanliness and hygiene,  nutritious food for children, etc.  

"Malnutrition has been building up because the institutions have been going down systematically for many years and there is an urgent need to revamp it. We have asked them to study the maps of severe malnutrition areas and formulate a strategy to deal with the grave problem of malnutrition with the help of WCD Ministry," Gandhi said.

The ICCW members also requested for a separate budget for the inspection of  crèches and Anganwadi <g data-gr-id="43">centers</g> to ensure quality. They highlighted the problem of court directions, asking them to pay PFs to crèche workers, which is beyond the means of child welfare councils. Gandhi assured all help to the Council provided they come up with a well-defined strategy and take active measures to ensure <g data-gr-id="41">quality</g> of services at creches and Anganwadi centres. 

ICCW is an umbrella organisation  of NGOs and non-profit organisations, working in the field of child welfare. The delegation of ICCW members was headed by the President of the organisation Geeta 

Siddhartha.