The Hindu : National : Supplementary nutrition scheme ‘tardy’ in Assam

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Supplementary nutrition scheme ‘tardy’ in Assam

Sushanta Talukdar

Implementation hit by long spells of non-feeding days: CAG

Central aid meant for children below 3 diverted
Department procured SNP rice at higher rates

Guwahati: The implementation of the Supplementary Nutritional Programme (SNP) in Assam is “tardy and failure.” It is handicapped by long spells of non-feeding days, inequality in and manipulation of the allotment for nutrition, diversion of the allotment without compensatory replacement and incurring of excess expenditure,” according to a report of the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India (CAG).

The report, tabled in the Assembly on Monday, showed that the Assam government did not provide funds for the SNP during the financial years between 2002-03 and 2004-05. The additional Central assistance of Rs. 135.86 crore for nutrition meant exclusively for children below three years was diverted for providing nutrition to all groups of beneficiaries.

‘Grossly inadequate’

The SNP is a component of a package of services under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS). A review of the “Nutrition Programme under ICDS” revealed that the performance of the SNP in terms of nutritional supplementation vis-À-vis the prescribed feeding days was “grossly inadequate.”

“Poor delivery of nutrition supplementation at only 21-29 per cent (calories) and 24-33 per cent (protein) negated the programme.”

Though subsidised rice under the Public Distribution System was available in abundance, the Social Welfare department procured SNP rice at higher rates, resulting in an avoidable expenditure of Rs 11.69 crore.

Under this Centrally sponsored scheme, all children in the age group 0-6, pregnant/nursing mothers and adolescent girls are to be provided with supplementary nutrition at a prescribed rate for 300 days a year through anganwadi centres. The State government identified the target population of beneficiaries as 54.37 lakh. However, as there were only 25, 416 anganwadi centres against the requirement of 54,375, it fixed the target at 25.42 lakh (47 per cent of total eligible beneficiaries) each year from 2002-03 to 2006-07.

Even to feed this reduced number of beneficiaries at the prescribed rate for 300 days a year, the fund requirement was Rs. 623.83 crore for the period 2002-2007. But only Rs. 236.73 crore (38 per cent) was provided and an expenditure of Rs. 231.27 crore incurred. Consequently, supplementary nutrition was provided only for 45-75 days during this period.

Underweight is one of the main indicators of malnutrition among children and weighing them is a logical step for determining eligibility. But surveys and identification of the beneficiaries were done without weighing children, it said.

The offices of eight Child Development Project Officers did not have working weighing machines. Although the Social Welfare Department claimed 100 per cent achievement, the CAG review showed that there was a shortfall in feeding days ranging from 225 (75 per cent) to 250 (83 per cent) out of 300 days. The scheme stipulated that for achieving the desired nutritional results, full 300-day support was necessary.

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