JEYPORE: The anganwadi workers of the district have threatened to suspend food supplementary schemes for mothers and children in ICDS project areas from December 1 protesting the delay in disbursal of money for purchase of rations under Supplementary Nutrition Programme and non-fixation of egg price by the Government agencies.
Under the State Government’s nutrition programme, eggs are provided to children, pregnant women and new mothers in about 3264 anganwadi centres in the district for which the Women and Child Development Department pays `4.5 per egg.
About 16,000 mothers and 67,000 children have been enlisted for egg benefit through anganwadi centres in Koraput district. These centres supply eggs twice a week to each beneficiary. But, due to delay in sanctioning of funds and non-fixation of price for purchase of eggs, the anganwadi workers are forced to procure it from open market at higher prices.
The Anganwadi Workers’ Union had apprised the district administration about their plight. They are forced to purchase eggs at `5-`6 per piece for distribution among beneficiaries at the centres while ICDS pays only `4.5 at a much later time.
Protesting the apathy, anganwadi workers across the district have decided to suspend distribution of eggs from December 1. They find it tough to meet the differential price of egg and local grocers too are reluctant to supply it on credit.
District Social Welfare Officer B Kuanr said, Anganwadi Workers’ Union has demanded timely payment for purchases under Supplementary Nutrition Programme and he has taken up the matter with higher-ups. “Though the ICDS department has enough funds to pay, it depends on reports from CDPOs,” he added.
It is alleged that the CDPOs and supervisors working under 14 ICDS projects in the district have not been furnishing the budget before District Social Welfare Department because of which there has been delay in payments.