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WCD overruled: cash transfers to replace take home ration

WCD officials have disagreed with NITI Aayog on rolling out cash transfers, with WCD contending that the money will never be spent by the family on beneficiaries, a chunk of which are women

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The Women and Child Development Ministry is preparing to implement cash transfers instead of take home ration (THR), a move it had opposed in principle on several counts earlier.

At the National Nutrition Council's first meeting on April 18, WCD's existing contention on cash transfers was overturned by the Council, a body formed under the observation of the Prime Minister to come up with policy prescriptions to overcome challenges in nutrition.

During the meeting of the Council, chaired by NITI Aayog vice-chairman Rajiv Kumar, it was decided that the scheme to provide beneficiaries with cash transfers instead of the existing norm of take home ration will be piloted in over 10 districts and the implementation studied. Minutes of the meeting, of which DNA has a copy shows that some of the district magistrates who were present at the meeting as part of the council, stressed on the need for pilot testing so that the problems the Centre faced in direct benefit transfer in Public Distribution System could be avoided.

"It was directed that pilots may be conducted in 10 selected districts for Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) through direct benefit transfer to beneficiaries instead of THR. In formulation of guidelines for CCTs, expert advice may be sought so that the pitfalls in DBT and PDS may be avoided. The results to be studied against the conventional system being followed and a decision taken thereon," the minutes read.

Rakesh Srivastava, secretary, WCD, told DNA that since the decision has been taken by the highest policy-making body in the area of nutrition, there's now no looking back. "We're working on the implementation and will soon identify the districts," Srivastava said.

However, during the Council meeting, the chairman conveying a directive from PMO that decided on the "need for continuance of the existing practice of Hot Cooked Meals for Children (03-06 years) age group and Take Home Ration (THR) for Children (06 months-03 years) and Pregnant Women and Lactating Mothers as decided by the state Governments in conformity with the National Food Security Act, 2013 and the Supplementary Nutrition Rules, 2017."

WCD officials have disagreed with NITI Aayog on rolling out cash transfers, with WCD contending that the money will never be spent by the family on beneficiaries, a chunk of which are women. WCD minister had taken the matter to the PMO, following which the National Technical Board of Nutrition was formed. The disagreements were so sharp that after the first meeting, the second meeting was cancelled.

In fact, in November 2017, the WCD ministry had to sent in a proposal to pilot the cash transfers in a few districts as part of the National Nutrition Policy to the Cabinet, following a directive of the NITI Aayog, which wanted to introduce cash transfers for malnourished children below three years of age and lactating women. In addition to that, the PM's group of secretaries had also suggested that cash transfers be introduced for pregnant women, with a condition that only women who carry out timely check-ups will receive the benefits.

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