Southern States - Tamil Nadu   

An Assembly promise vegetating

By Ramya Kannan

CHENNAI Sept. 14. Financial constraints seem to keep the Tamil Nadu Government from fulfilling its promise to children under the State's nutrition scheme.

Though it was announced in the Assembly in May this year that the daily allocation for vegetables would be increased from 23 to 35 paise per child, no government order has followed, giving effect to the announcement. Celebrations of Nutrition Week are therefore a little off colour as disappointed anganwadi workers feel that the increased allocation should be granted without further delay.

The 12-paise increase came after repeated appeals by workers in various nutrition projects run by the state. Earlier in 1996-97, the allocation was 18 paise.

After several petitions by the anganwadi workers, it was raised to 23 paise— vegetables (11.5 paise), fuel (7 paise), salt (0.5 paise) and condiments (4 paise). It was only in 2002 that the amount went up to 35 paise.

As per norms, the centres are supposed to provide 50 grams of vegetables (with salt and condiments) to every child daily. But ``considering the prices at which vegetables and firewood are being sold today, how can the purpose of providing nutritious food to the children be served with such paltry amounts, '' asks the TN Forces member, K. Shanmugavelayutham.

It has been a long-standing plea by the anganwadi workers that the allocation be raised adequately. ``With one kg of ladies' fingers costing Rs 10 in the Koyambedu market (in Chennai), how can we buy any nutritious vegetable for 25 paise'', asks an anganwadi worker of a centre in the Egmore area. ``We try to reduce the burden by diverting the allocation for fuel to vegetables, but even this is insufficient. For firewood, we seek the help of the local community or send ayahs to gather paper or dried branches,'' say the anganwadi workers.

Though the new budgetary allocation is unlikely to bring about dramatic improvements, the workers hope, the situation will be more ``manageable''.

Over 4.5 lakh children are direct beneficiaries, being targeted through 10,482 Integrated Child Development Services Scheme centres and 18,352 World Bank ICDS-3 Centres in Tamil Nadu.

The programme intends meeting the needs of the child, from conception to the age of six, including nutritious food and an environment for physical, emotional, cognitive and social development.

`GO will be ready soon'

``We are making preparations to issue the GO as soon as possible. The delay is because of the financial constraints the Government is facing. Even if it is a hike of 12 paise per child, there are a large number of children who will benefit. We have spoken to the Finance Secretary to make sure that the GO is ready soon,'' explains the Social Welfare Minister, B.Valarmathi.

She gives the assurance that it would be passed in a week.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

• Suspected serial killer gang busted
• Chidambaram hints at Rajnikant entry into politics
• Child labourers rescued aboard train, on way to Baruch
• We are on right side of law: Jayalalithaa
• NHRC notice to T.N. Govt. on temple ritual
• Row over temple festival procession
• An Assembly promise vegetating
• Mettur inflow just a trickle
• No amnesty on Anna's birthday this year
• Integrated food law on the anvil
• Chosen for medal
• STF surrounds Bayalure forests

Copyright © 2002, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu