Fact-finding Report on “Implementation of ICDS Program, MDM & RTE act 2009” in kaptipada Block of Mayurbhanj district
Speaking during the inaugural session of the State level Convention on Children’s Right
to Food in Bhubaneswar on 27.12.12, Ms Arati Ahuja, Secretary to Women and Child
Development department (WCD), Govt of Odisha claimed that the decentralized
procurement of food stuff under ICDS is a great success. She also said that Odisha is a
leading state in the decentralization of procurement. For better implementation of
ICDS project, Joint accounts have been opened in the names of the AW worker and the
ward member. All payments are done through e payment to the joint accounts. There
are mother’s committees and Jaanch Committees at the local level to monitor the
system. Trainings have been provided through CDs and guidelines have been provided
in Odia language to the Janch committees and Mother’s committees. Her statement
was highlighted in various news paper. Similarly, the Govt. also takes credit claiming
that MDM is effectively managed in the state.
To understand the workability and effectiveness of decentralization of procurement and
functioning of Mothers’ Committee and Jaanch Committee for proper monitoring of
ICDS project, Mid Day Meal program in schools and implementation of RTE act 2009, a
3-member team of Right to Food Campaign, Odisha had visited Kaptipada, tribal
Block under Mayurbhanj district taking it as sample area on 10th and 11th January,
2013. The Team Members are Pradip Pradhan, State Convener, Right to Food
Campaign, Odisha, Sri Pradipta Nayak, Member, State Monitoring & Steering
Committee on MDM, Sri Tapan Padhi, Human Rights Activist. The Team travelled
extensively four Gram Panchayats i.e., Kalamgadia, Ramachandra Pur, Saradhia and
Rani Pokhari, visited the Primary schools, Anganwadi center’s, interacted with the
Anganwadi Workers, school teachers, villagers, parents, School Management Committee
Members, beneficiaries, Panchayat Representatives to get enlightened about
implementation of ICDS and MDM programme in their areas. The Team also met
ABDO, Kaptipada Block, Child Development Project Officer, Sub-Collector, Udala, made
telephonic discussion with District Project Coordinator, SSA, Mayurbhanj and brought
to their notice about the issues relating to implementation of these two flagship
programmes. It needless to mention here that both the programmes mandate to ensure
nutritious food to the children. While objective of the ICDS is to check MMR and IMR
through providing nutritious food and free health service including immunization,
MDM programme aims to ensure attendance of the children in the school and provide
nutritious food to them.
Kaptipada is the tribal dominated forest-infested block of Mayurbhanj district. It
comes under administrative jurisdiction of Udala sub-division. It is around 60 km away
from district headquarter. It consists of 26 GPs and 146 villages. Tribal population of
the Block is 63.51%. All development projects including tribal welfare programme,
food security programme are being undertaken by the Govt. for socio-economic
development of the Tribal. Most of the Tribal are poor coming under BPL category.
The Block has 337 primary, new primary and UGME schools and 272 Anganwadi
centres.
Mid-Day-Meal and ICDS programme is the most important Central Govt.-sponsored
flagship programme implemented to provide nutritious food to the children,
pregnant and lactating women throughout the country. It has become entitlement of
2
the beneficiaries after intervention of the Supreme Court on case of Writ Petition No.
196/2011 known as Right to Food Case. While hearing this case, Supreme Court has
issued series of interim orders to both the State Govt. and the Central Govt. to ensure
effective implementation of all food security programmes including ICDS and MDM. SC
has also directed all State Govt. on 8th May, 2012 to put in place robust Grievance
Redressal Mechanism like maintaining a Register for receiving complaints by the
Collector, conducting social audit by Gram Sabha, maintaining transparency in the
implementation of the programme by displaying all information in public domain etc.
to Food in Bhubaneswar on 27.12.12, Ms Arati Ahuja, Secretary to Women and Child
Development department (WCD), Govt of Odisha claimed that the decentralized
procurement of food stuff under ICDS is a great success. She also said that Odisha is a
leading state in the decentralization of procurement. For better implementation of
ICDS project, Joint accounts have been opened in the names of the AW worker and the
ward member. All payments are done through e payment to the joint accounts. There
are mother’s committees and Jaanch Committees at the local level to monitor the
system. Trainings have been provided through CDs and guidelines have been provided
in Odia language to the Janch committees and Mother’s committees. Her statement
was highlighted in various news paper. Similarly, the Govt. also takes credit claiming
that MDM is effectively managed in the state.
To understand the workability and effectiveness of decentralization of procurement and
functioning of Mothers’ Committee and Jaanch Committee for proper monitoring of
ICDS project, Mid Day Meal program in schools and implementation of RTE act 2009, a
3-member team of Right to Food Campaign, Odisha had visited Kaptipada, tribal
Block under Mayurbhanj district taking it as sample area on 10th and 11th January,
2013. The Team Members are Pradip Pradhan, State Convener, Right to Food
Campaign, Odisha, Sri Pradipta Nayak, Member, State Monitoring & Steering
Committee on MDM, Sri Tapan Padhi, Human Rights Activist. The Team travelled
extensively four Gram Panchayats i.e., Kalamgadia, Ramachandra Pur, Saradhia and
Rani Pokhari, visited the Primary schools, Anganwadi center’s, interacted with the
Anganwadi Workers, school teachers, villagers, parents, School Management Committee
Members, beneficiaries, Panchayat Representatives to get enlightened about
implementation of ICDS and MDM programme in their areas. The Team also met
ABDO, Kaptipada Block, Child Development Project Officer, Sub-Collector, Udala, made
telephonic discussion with District Project Coordinator, SSA, Mayurbhanj and brought
to their notice about the issues relating to implementation of these two flagship
programmes. It needless to mention here that both the programmes mandate to ensure
nutritious food to the children. While objective of the ICDS is to check MMR and IMR
through providing nutritious food and free health service including immunization,
MDM programme aims to ensure attendance of the children in the school and provide
nutritious food to them.
Kaptipada is the tribal dominated forest-infested block of Mayurbhanj district. It
comes under administrative jurisdiction of Udala sub-division. It is around 60 km away
from district headquarter. It consists of 26 GPs and 146 villages. Tribal population of
the Block is 63.51%. All development projects including tribal welfare programme,
food security programme are being undertaken by the Govt. for socio-economic
development of the Tribal. Most of the Tribal are poor coming under BPL category.
The Block has 337 primary, new primary and UGME schools and 272 Anganwadi
centres.
Mid-Day-Meal and ICDS programme is the most important Central Govt.-sponsored
flagship programme implemented to provide nutritious food to the children,
pregnant and lactating women throughout the country. It has become entitlement of
2
the beneficiaries after intervention of the Supreme Court on case of Writ Petition No.
196/2011 known as Right to Food Case. While hearing this case, Supreme Court has
issued series of interim orders to both the State Govt. and the Central Govt. to ensure
effective implementation of all food security programmes including ICDS and MDM. SC
has also directed all State Govt. on 8th May, 2012 to put in place robust Grievance
Redressal Mechanism like maintaining a Register for receiving complaints by the
Collector, conducting social audit by Gram Sabha, maintaining transparency in the
implementation of the programme by displaying all information in public domain etc.
