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DNA THEME | NO DCT: Malnutrition haunts National Nutrition Mission

National Nutrition Mission does not have the quintessential element of direct cash transfer as Union WCD ministry feels that among other things, there’s possibility of cash misuse by male members of beneficiaries. Amit Bhatt reports

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The ambitious National Nutrition Mission (NNM), launched by PM Narendra Modi on International Women’s Day in Jhunjhunu, does not have a critical component of Direct Cash Transfer (DCT). The proposal for introducing DCT was floated, but it was shot down by Union Women and Child Development (WCD) Ministry despite the approval of Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

Highly placed sources told DNA that the Union WCD Ministry, which is the nodal ministry for implementation of the NNM together with health ministry, has written to UP government informing about its decision of not executing DCT and has forwarded a copy of the letter informing about the same to chief secretaries, principal secretaries and heads of WCD of all the state governments.

The decision was taken by Union WCD Ministry after some states, including Rajasthan and UP, approached it seeking no objection certificate for implementing cash transfers on a pilot basis in lieu of Take Home Ration (THR) to pregnant/lactating mothers, which is currently given to the beneficiaries under Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), said the sources.

The PMO, during a review meeting on nutrition in November last year, had directed the WCD Ministry to take up pilot project for cash transfers in lieu of THR in selected districts in consultation with the state governments. But, PMO and NITI Aayog’s order was over-ruled by Ministry of WCD.

“NITI Aayog’s direction for cash transfer came after the findings by the Aayog that there was up to 80% leakage in THR distribution. But, probably, considering the possible misuse of cash by male members of beneficiaries’ family, Union WCD department decided to drop the idea,” an official at Rajasthan WCD department said on account of anonymity.

Officials in WCD ministry have their argument in support of DBT exclusion in NNM, but figures rule out the worries as according to National Family and Health Survey- 4 (2015-16) around 82% married women in Rajasthan usually participate in household decisions. Experts are also at a different view.

“When direct benefit transfer is already implemented in schemes involving larger money like Janani Suraksha Yojana and PM Matru Vandan Yojana, the same should have been done at least once to test DCT’s effectiveness,” Dr Priyamvada Singh, policy and outreach adviser for RajPusht-IPE Global said. “May it be through pilot project basis, alternative measures to stop leakage must be tried. Though, cash transfer must be coupled with efforts to change the behaviour and mindset of family members of the beneficiary, husband and mother-in-law in particular,” she added.

BRAINCHILD OF THE PM:

NNM is the brainchild of PM Modi and is aimed at improving the nutritional status of pregnant and lactating mothers and children up to the age of six years. Its targets include reducing stunting and under-nutrition in children (0-6 years) at the rate of 2 per cent per annum and reduce anaemia by 2 per cent among children (6-59 months).

FUND FUNDAS:

The scheme is meant to provide supplementary nutrition for mothers and children in their prenatal and neonatal stages and involves huge Budgets across Central and state government levels. The scheme is divided 50:50 between the Centre and a state and budgetary provisions are made accordingly. For example, Rs 16,335 crore has been allocated to the ICDS core or Anganwadi Services in the Union Budget 2018-19, an increase of 7% from 2017-18 levels of Rs 15,245 crore.

TROUBLESHOOT: WHY NITI AAYOG RECOMMENDED CASH TRANSFER:

The idea of cash transfers in ICDS was mooted by NITI Aayog in its report— ‘Nourishing India:National Nutrition Study’, where it had supported the need to launch pilot schemes in selected districts for cash transfers (in place of THR) under the ICDS. The proposal was made as complaints of leakages in THR scheme keep coming, particularly from Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand. The complaints include siphoning of funds, poor quality food supplement as THR given to pregnant and lactating mothers and kids below 3 years, or the THR not reaching out to intended beneficiaries.

Supplementary nutrition contents in THR

Wheat 50g

Soya bean 11g

Edible oil 05g

Chana Dal 05g

Sugar 29g

CASH VALUE OF THR

  • Distribution through 13.59 lakh Anganwadi centres across the country
     
  • Pregnant/lactating mothers entitled to receive THR worth Rs 13,000 over a 45-month period
     
  • On average it is Rs 285 per month (Rs 9.5 per day)
     
  • Children between 6 months to 6 years entitled to get Rs 10,950 over a 45-month period
     
  • On average it is Rs 244 per month (Rs 8 per day)
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