Government not to withdraw food packets for kids at anganwadis
NEW DELHI: The government has dropped a proposal to replace take-home food packets given at anganwadi centres with money transfers, and Union women and child development (WCD) ministry will soon issue guidelines to states to stick to the existing system.
The decision puts a lid on a debate over how best to combat malnutrition among children, particularly in rural parts of the country. Anganwadi centres, or government-run daycares, have been giving out meals and additional packets of ready-to-cook, fortified foods for decades under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) programme. But the system was under scanner over concerns that the meals and ration were of substandard quality.
A senior WCD ministry official, wishing not to be identified, said rules are being drawn to ensure that hot cooked meals — given to children in the age group of 3-6 years — and take-home food packets that are meant for children between six months and three years, and pregnant and lactating mothers, are continued.
Roughly 41% of children below five in India’s villages show signs of stunted growth and 38% are under-weight— symptoms that their nutrition was insufficient, according to the 2015-16 estimates from the National Family Health Survey. Approximately 8.37 crore children between six months and six years are covered under the supplementary nutrition programme. But states such as Maharashtra had started the process of replacing cooked meals with pre-cooked food packets, drawing criticism from experts. Doubts on the current system were first raised by a panel of top bureaucrats set up by PM to review the government’s schemes and suggest budget ideas for 2017-18 on health, sanitation and urban development.
It recommended the system of giving food packets be replaced with cash transfers to mothers.
The proposal then went to the federal think-tank Niti Aayog, where a committee headed by Dr Vinod Paul shot it down.
“The committee recommended continuing with hot cooked meal to children between 3-6 years as mandated under the National Food Security Act and THR for those under three years and pregnant and lactating mothers,” said a second WCD ministry official.
The recommendation was sent to the Prime Minister’s Office, which passed it on to the WCD ministry last month.
The cash transfer idea, however, is not completely off the table. “The government has not scrapped the cash transfer recommendation altogether. It has been put on hold for now,” a third
government source said.
To check pilferage, the PMO has also said that food packets should be bar-coded.
Modi’s office has also directed the WCD ministry to set up a technical committee under Dr Paul to advise states on tackling malnutrition. “For severely acute malnourished children, states can give RUTF (ready-to-use therapeutic food) but only after getting the go-ahead from the technical committee.” RUTF can be consumed directly and are meant for children suffering from severe malnutrition.
Supplementary nutrition under ICDS is a legal entitlement under the National Food Security Act, 2013. The average meal for millions does not have the recommended level of nutrients.