Centre, State accused of watering down ICDS

​Sangareddy: CITU State secretary Jaya Lakshmi alleged that both the Central and State governments were neglecting Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) by reducing fund allocation to implement the 40-year-old welfare scheme of the government.

Addressing the media as part of the three-day State conference of Centre for Indian Trade Unions (CITU) held at Sangareddy on Saturday, she alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was trying to discontinue the scheme, which has won laurels internationally, by trying to privatise it. She felt that the State government was also supporting Modi’s move by not opposing it.

She said there was no job security for Anganwadi workers and that even after working for the past 40 years; the workers were not getting retirement benefits. She asked why it was taking so long for Telangana government to give the benefits to Anganwadi workers, even though suggestions for the same were taken more than a year ago. She pointed out that the Government of Andhra Pradesh had already taken a decision to that effect after bifurcation united AP.

She found fault with GO 14 issued by the State government regarding removal action on Anganwadi workers if they failed to perform their jobs as per the laid-down guidelines in the GO. “Even until now, we don’t have permanent structures for Anganwadis.

At many places we are running the centres at rented locations with poor infrastructure. In such situations, how can the workers ensure everything is perfect? Even if there is a mistake on part of a worker for whatever reason, is it morally correct to take away their livelihood?” she asked.

She demanded the State government to look into the matters of substandard quality food being supplied to Anganwadi centres and lakhs of rupees being misused. She also demanded the government to establish 50 per cent of last drawn salary of workers as pension.