Mulls providing gas cylinders; action against non-cooperative anaganwadis on cards; may seek help of self-help-groups
Two weeks after the dna expose on how the Devendra Fadnavis government's flagship scheme, the Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Amrut Ahaar Yojna for pregnant tribal women, has flopped, the government has started reviewing it. The scheme did not take off in most areas of the tribal belt.
Fadnavis has reportedly asked the Tribal Development Department (TDD) and the Women and Child Development Department (WCD) to evaluate the implementation of the scheme, a highly placed official told dna.
Following the directive, the TDD is considering providing gas cylinders and stoves to anganwadis, a major miss in the scheme, because of which most anganwadis were unable to roll out the scheme.
The department is also seeking stern action against "non-cooperative" anganwadi workers. The anganwadis, which come under WCD, have been roped into the scheme to serve hot and nutritious meals to pregnant tribal women.
However, anganwadi sevikas are unhappy due to the meagre stipend offered to them to cook meals. Workers in Nashik district held a rally ten days back, demanding higher stipend and gas connections.
This reporter visited a couple of anganwadis in Igatpuri on February 8 to check the implementation of the scheme and found that it remained mainly on paper as the government failed to provide cooking facilities and gas connections. Most anganwadis these days don't have kitchens and outsource meals for children.
The anganwadi workers' stir has now spread to Thane, Palghar and Nandurbar and it has alerted the government, especially since the budget session is around the corner.
A WCD official blames the anganwadi unions. "We already pay anganwadi sevikas Rs5,000 a month though they work only for a few hours. For the Amrut Ahar scheme, tribal department is paying them Rs250 a month. Still they don't want to cook, thanks to the unions."
There are 6-7 unions of anganwadi workers. "Those which are based in Mumbai are more aggressive and oppose the scheme to seek more stipend," said the official.
Tribal secretary Rajagopal Devara said: "We have swung into action the day dna highlighted the matter. A complete evaluation of the scheme is being done at present. The issues are being resolved at most places. We would seek action from the WCD on those anganwadi workers who are not cooperating.
"We are considering other options if anganwadis continue their non-cooperation," he said. The hint was that the government could outsource the job.
Devara admitted that his department is in the process of making provision for cooking facilities but refused to share details.
The scheme was rolled out by the Fadnavis government on its first year in November 2015, and Rs75 crore were allocated in the first year to reach out to 1.9 lakh women.
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