Funds for children end in procuring gadgets

Funds meant for health and nutrition of children are being spent on procuring fax machines, photocopiers, gas stoves and cookers. Adding salt to injury is that all these gadgets are lying idle and rusting, due to lack of electricity, telephone lines and for want of gas connections.

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) which audited the performance of Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme worth Rs. 15,460 crore annually  has found shortfall in expenditure on supplementary nutrition ranging between 15% and 36% of the requirements during the period 2006-11. There was also a gap of 33 to 45% between the numbers of eligible beneficiaries identified and those receiving the supplementary diet.  Against the total release of Rs. 1753 crore to 28 states for meeting expenditure on salary of ICDS functionaries, the actual expenditures were reported at Rs. 2853 crore indicating uncrealistic budgeting and diversion of funds from other critical components.

The pilferage speaks why India was lacking in key child development and health indicators even with its own targets and with the neighbouring countries of Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and even with sub-Saharan Africa.

In Haryana Rs. 38.6 crore  were diverted to paying honorariums and buying furniture. In Uttar Pradesh Rs. 6.08 crore were meant for providing diet to children were spent on purchase of computers. In Odhisha the amounts earmarked for ICDS were spent on pensions, vehicle hire charges and other contingent expenditures. In Rajasthan Rs. 43.07 were diverted for payment of arrears.

A test check of records in Uttar Pradesh found the government had procured 337 fax machines and 338 photostat machines from the funds meant for growth of children. These machines at tehsil levels were found idle, till date due to lack of electricity and telephone connections. In Karnataka, officials used funds for purchasing gas stoves and pressure cookers for aanganwadi centres in March 2011. Audit found they were rusting for want of gas connections.

The audit also reported discrepancy in data on number of severely malnourished children. In Assam alone the figure of malnourished reported by the ministry was just 8,789, but the statement of expenditure submitted by the state the number has been 4,62,725. Further, while national family health survey puts malnourished and severely malnourished at 42.5% and 15.8% respectively, the ministry data as on March 31, 2011 was 41.16 and 3.33% respectively.