On 9th July 2010 a Social Audit on ICDS was facilitated by SPREAD for Guneipada GP and Badigada GP of Lamtaput block. The Social Audit is an empowering people’s process in which the grey areas are found to improve. The Guneipada GP has 9 AW Centers from which one center is not functioning to the optimum level for much obvious reason for not because of the staff but because of the newly created establishment and administrative obstacles. The Social Audit process was conducted in different phases initiating from secondary which was provided by the Government under RTI, interaction with implementing officials at the centers, verification at the village and panchayat level, which involved 25 volunteers and following were the major findings:
- Out of 13 AW Centers visited and verified only 6 AW Centers have their own buildings, rest more than 50% of the AW Centers are run in helpers house or in rented house.
- Similarly drinking water facilities, toilet, storage space, and kitchen remains as a major concern in the area of ICDS
Pre-School Education
The team met 87 beneficiaries under pre-school out of total 230 beneficiaries and found that
- Pre –school activities ins only run in 3 centers which is limited to only 3 days to 16 days in a month on an average basis.
- Violating the Supreme Court directions cooked food served only in 4 centers for Pre-school children that on a irregular basis
- Wherever the take home ration is provided to the Pre- school going children the quantity is found to be less than one 3rd of the actual entitlement, government is providing Rs. 100 per child per month, findings indicate that only Rs.34 is reaching the Pre- school going children. The very purpose of the Pre- school activities and services has found to be completed diluted in this part of tribal Odisha.
Supplementary Nutrition Programme
- Out of 77 beneficiaries which include pregnant and lactating, the team met 47 such women under both categories; it was found that 6 centers receive only the half of the actual entitlement and in rest 2 centers ( in centers like Poibeda and Ambapada) whole quantity of the ration is received by the beneficiaries.
- Under the category of 6 months to 36 months; out of 221 beneficiaries the team cross checked 127 such beneficiaries where it was found that more than 50% are receiving half of their actual entitlement.
- The same situation is applicable to all categories of beneficiaries where they receive half of the ration from the actual, the scenarios is very grim in this part of the Odisha.
- This GP has 25 malnourished children, who need and deserve the most but they do receive drastically less ration.
Kishori Balika Yojana
- The total beneficiaries were 230 and the team verified 84 out of the whole list. They are entitled to get 18 kgs of rice each quarter, but the findings show erratic supply and that to it is almost one 3rd of the actual ration.
Emergency feeding programme
This is a special programme run by the government for the weaker sections of the state like old aged, physically disable, destitute and 2 lakhs beneficiaries are targeted under this programme. They are provided with cooked food throughout the year.
- Total beneficaires under this scheme 55 were interacted out of 155 beneficiaries, ; the team found that 10 are left out who may come under this programme.
- Out of 8 centers only 2 centers provide cooked food and rest provide dry ration
- The ration which is supplied is well below the prescribed norms of the government
Immunization and health care
- The beneficiaries are receiving immunization in time and in more than 60 % of the centers it was found that on 1st or 2nd Wednesday the immunization is carried out. Its regular and well functioning which is a positive welcoming gesture of the scheme.
Referral Services
- All AWW do refer the needy to the primary health centers and treatment, for transportation. In 8 centers total 46 children have been provided by this service but its unfortunate that no transportation cost has been not given to them.
Mother committee
- All centers have mother’s committee and it exists pen and paper but they people are not aware of the committee and meetings.
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