In a major setback to women and child development minister Renuka Chowdhury, the cabinet committee on economic affairs rejected her proposal to supply ready-to-eat meals to anganwadi children
Minister wanted to supply ready-to-eat meals to anganwadis
NEW DELHI: In a major setback to women and child development (WCD) minister Renuka Chowdhury, the cabinet committee on economic affairs (CCEA) rejected on Thursday her ambitious proposal to supply ready-to-eat (RTE) packaged meals to the lakhs of anganwadi children in the country. CCEA, instead, favoured hot-cooked food (HCF) similar to midday meal.
CCEA decided to constitute a group of ministers (GoM) which will recommend, after consultations with the states, how to implement HCF without hiccups.
At present, RTE is served in three states, while HCF is served in 15 states. Eleven states serve both. Chowdhury had proposed RTE, procured from private contractors, in all states.
Taking a united stand against Chowdhury, CCEA, headed by the prime minister, outrightly rejected her demand to supply fortified packaged food through the integrated child development scheme (ICDS), saying centralised procurement was not favourable for the government.
CCEA was of the view that the government should instead provide infrastructure, such as kitchen and utensils, to anganwadis to prepare HCF.
The ministers who strongly opposed RTE were Mani Shankar Aiyar (panchayati raj), Jaipal Reddy (urban development), Raghuvansh Prasad (rural development), Kumari Selja (urban employment and poverty alleviation) and deputy chairman of the planning commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia.
None of the ministers bought Chowdhury’s argument that RTE could be an important tool to curb malnutrition and deficiency among children between 3-6 years of age.
In fact, Reddy, it is learnt, even suggested Chowdhury to provide eggs to children to reduce deficiency. Ahluwalia reportedly said no centralised procurement should be done as it would breed corruption.
Arguing that panchayats should be involved in ICDS, Aiyar reportedly even went to the extent of remarking: “Renukaji, we know the issue is very close to your heart,” prompting a burst of laughter from others.
There were also no takers for Chowdhury’s argument that many states did not have the infrastructure to make HCF. CCEA felt GoM could work out a way for that after consulting state governments.
Already hinting at the possibility of corruption, the supreme court, which is hearing a PIL with regard to corruption in various ICDS schemes, has favoured HCF to packaged food and directed the government to keep contractors out of the scheme.
“Contractors shall not be used for supply of nutrition in anganwadis and preferably ICDS funds shall be spent by making use of village communities, self-help groups and mahila mandals to buy grains and prepare hot meals,” it has said.
p_vineeta@dnaindia.net 
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}