Harshwardhan Patil, minister for women and child welfare, is unwilling to concede that the children in Bhandup slums are malnourished.
Harshwardhan Patil, minister for women and child welfare, is unwilling to concede to Neeta Kolhatkar that the children in Bhandup slums are malnourished. However, he does concede that there is a malnutrition problem in Maharashtra.
Why is the government denying malnourishment?
I don't agree there is any malnutrition in Bhandup slums. I've spoken to the doctors and they said only two children belong to grade II and III. Malnutrition starts from grade IV. Secondly I agree there are cases of malnutrition in Maharashtra. I don't want to pass on my responsibility, but the medical and health department, municipal corporations, local bodies, the RDD (Rural development and water supply department), food and civil supply department, NGOs and local societies should also come forward.
We have hospital papers at the time of the children's admission. They are underweight and have been so graded by the hospital. Do you still deny the problem?
There are gradations in malnutrition, I agree. We are giving nutrition programmes but they are not full-fledged meals. Poverty, conditions of slums areas and the mothers who are mostly labourers are themselves malnourished. As regards Bhandup I agree there were some lapses but this area is an undeclared slum. They have no water connections or electricity and there is little the can government do.
Do you deny there is malnutrition in slums?
See, these malnutrition cases are found in tribal and slum areas. There have been lapses. But we want to move ahead. We have sanctioned three anganwadis in Bhandup slums despite it being an undeclared slums. Around 1,500 anganwadis have been allotted for slums areas. Every two months, one deputy commissioner from my department will go for spot inspection and the report will be sent to all officials. Every three months I will personally review these areas.
What measures will you take?
We plan to take some schemes under the Nagri Prakalp (Urban project) to these slums. Earlier we gave only Re 1.50 per child in the nutrition programme under the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS), done with the World Bank. The Cabinet has increased the amount to Rs 2.
Now we can give them good food and increase the quota. Previously this distribution was done by contractors. In order to stop disparities and ensure that all get benefit, we will stop all contracts for distribution. We have decided that angawadis and Mahila Bachat Gat (Women's savings group) will be given all the responsibility.
We were covering only 0-6 year-olds but with central government's grant we will cater to more children. We are going to start 12,000 new anganwadis across the state.
The ICDS has approved anganwadi sevikas and the madatnis are honorarium workers. These posts are not based on salaries. Rs 1,450 are given to sevikas and 750 are given to madatnis.
We are planning to increase this to at least Rs 60 per day, so that they can do well.
){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}