When it Refuses to Trickle Down

Miles of small golden bundles of wheat neatly placed in a line spread across agricultural fields in Kaushambhi district, known as the ‘doab kshetra’ or the land that is between two great rivers, the Ganga and the Yamuna are dotted with stories of hunger, starvation and malnutrition. The news has not been good, stating that wheat prices have plummeted to an all time low with the prices in Uttar Pradesh recording the lowest in comparison to other states. So as we see a good harvest the irking reality is that the farmers will not get a fair price yet again.

What does this mean for children? Weight records kept by local NGOs show that over 80 percent of the children born in the area are low birth weight and malnourished in their older ages. It is of grave concern to see how the ICDS or Integrated Child Development Scheme, one of the rays of hope in terms of provisioning for early child development by the government is completely defunct. Everyone blames the ‘system’.

The ‘system’ they say in hushed tones is absolutely corrupt. A resident and activist sits down to draw out what he means, but is careful to disclaim that this is privileged information which can only be shared on the basis of anonymity. He explains that every anganwadi worker must shelve out some portion of her salary and submit to the block supervisor, who must commit the amount and in this way money is siphoned out through the chain of hierarchy to the level of the Directorate which in turn hands over the sum to the political power holders. It is an unsaid understanding for being given a plum job in the village and being able to retain it. But of course no one will part with salary; it is the respective materials for the ICDS which should go to children, which take the hit. Even here! is all that one can exclaim as a primary reaction to the problem. Contemplating aloud, I wonder can political ethics be evolved within the accepted practices of corruption. For instance, ‘at least that money will not be siphoned from children’s schemes, especially those children who are in the 0-6 category, having no voting rights and are still to develop a clear voice for themselves’.

A discussion with the CDPO at Bhiti further clarifies that there are inordinate delays in provisioning, ‘Anganwadi workers who are not given an advance but paid on basis of expense. Very often they do not have adequate resources to buy the provisions. Medicines sent from Lucknow have expired. TLMS are not fit for circulation. Quality monitoring of these products are not done locally but centrally. Panjiri is sent from Gurgaon and monitored in Lucknow before it is packed and sent to ICDS locally’.

Traversing through the different Anganwadis running for children in Kaushambi, Pratapgarh and Bhiti districts in Uttar Pradesh the stories of allotted benefits refusing to trickle down only reinforce themselves. There are ramshackle rooms, filled with filth, without proper mats for children to sit in some places, while in others there is just a shed and nothing else. Rice puff and molasses are distributed hurriedly by the Anganwadi worker in village Nadouli. Children carefully fold up their skirts and t-shirts for a fistful of rice puff, hardly anything to make up for their nutrition. Sometimes for some lucky anganwadis the more regular mid day meal in schools also serves the 3 to 6 year old children if the ICDS is located in the primary school. But these are few, and most primary schools with low infrastructure are pressured for space as well.

The Supreme Court provisions have clearly stated that special rations should be provided to children in malnourished categories but out of the ICDS centres, none of the anganwadi workers had any special data on or focus on malnourished children. There were no weighing machines (officially allotted to the Anganwadis), and ‘panjiri’( food supplement in powdered form) seemed to be the only thing that had reached these villages. Hardly edible, the Supreme Court’s recommendation of making available freshly cooked and diversified meals through the week in the ICDS is still a distant dream in these districts.

‘No one will question these women because they are the wives and daughters of powerful people’ say the villagers referring to the ICDS workers, but the problem seems to be felt by all levels in the system making it clear how tough it is for these duty bearers to turn the system in their favour and in the favour of the children they service. An ICDS Block Supervisor in Kaushambhi district clearly states ‘I don’t know what is meant to be there, we use what we get’. Looking around gives a grave picture that the ICDS gets very little.

For better commitment to children’s health, nutrition and education programmes in the 3-6 age group a separate infrastructure needs to be developed rather than half hearted promises.

A local NGO worker states that ‘food’ is a very sensitive topic for ICDS workers, it is better to discuss other things first with them to create a non threatening environment. Others suggest that ICDS workers often fear repercussions of recording death and malnutrition levels and hence they should be rewarded in identifying the same. However members of village community seek higher level of accountability of these service providers. It is clear from them that there are leaks in the pot, which must be sealed first.

Successful community initiatives show that if the concept is understood and there is a commitment and will, quality ICDS centres catering to care, health, nutrition and education of young children can be ensured. This means that local communities must have a say on the food needs of children in the ICDS, this ensures diversified, local and freshly cooked meals. If demonstrable creative play and learning environments are created for children from 3-6 category, which are of quality, the development of children is fast and clearly visible, and even ensures early detection of disability.Also where there have been successful initiatives specifically on maternal health and early child care, one finds that children born in the normal weight category, quickly slip to low birth weight in the first six years of their life. This is mainly because of neglect, since mothers are busy eking out a living through daily wage work in agricultural fields, not conducive to having child care facilities for their children. In such situations the ICDS is a crucial resource to communities providing a safe and hygienic care environment for the child, while mothers go to work. Supportive measures such as health monitoring by the ASHA and ANMs need to be regularized and incentives given to communities to keep grain or food banks which act as protection against sharp rising food prices during times of scarcity.

A common complaint of ICDS workers in the districts visitted is that parents do not send their children to the ICDS, but unless these care systems are built in accessible places and stepped up to become dependable institutions, communities will not be motivated enough to access them. The result is that those who can afford private services will access them at a higher price. Those who can’t afford and require these interventions more urgently will continue to remain neglected.