ICDS implementation far from satisfactory in Bihar: CAG

Patna, Mar 27 (UNI) The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has detected gross anomalies in the implementation of Integrated Child Development Schemes (ICDS), Welfare schemes in Bihar for children upto six years of age.

According to CAG report for 2006-07, released here yesterday, the Centre had granted permission to open 82,833 Anganwadi centres in the State but only 60,153 such centres were made active till July 2007.

During the inspection, it was detected that 97 per cent of the Angawadi centres were devoid of basic amenities like safe drinking water and sanitation.

''43 per cent of the Anganwadi centres are running in thatched cottages (jhopadi) while a sum of Rs 2.82 crore were alotted to be paid to the owners of private houses where such centres exist,'' the report stated.

According to the norms, the amount should have been paid to house owners of the centres directly and not through the account of Anganwadi Sevikas, who used to receive it as an advance.

Besides, instead of providing nutritious meals to the children for 300 days during 2002-07 as required, most of the centres provided it for only 225 days, the CAG authorities stated.

The report also stated that the children were not given school bags and drug kits as prescribed under ICDS.

Records relating to immunisation, health cards, pre and post-natal services were also not found in most of the centres during the inspection.

UNI KKS PP RC DB1219