We spoke with some of the families who were receiving nutritional support, about overall health of children, starting right from health of expectant mothers.   While discussing nutritional needs for women in general and for healthy pregnancy, childbirth and nursing mothers in particular, women reported that the government anganwadi, which is supposed to provide health and nutritional support for pregnant women, new mothers and children up to age 6, was not functioning.  The anganwadi, a program of the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) department is supposed to register the names of all pregnant women and children up to age 6.  These women are entitled to receive monthly ration for the duration of their pregnancy and six months beyond.  From age 6 months to 3 years, the children are entitled to a daily cooked meal (either upma or khichdi) and for children of age 3 – 6 years, the anganwadi runs a half-day preschool program along with serving a cooked meal.  However it turned out that these services ran only on paper, not in reality.

Left: Villagers sign letter to District Collector complaining that they had not received anganwadi services in years. 

    After hearing the same story from several villages, we visited the local anganwadi workers, who suggested that we attend their monthly sector meeting.  While villagers and to some extent anganwadi workers acknowledged problems in anganwadi serves when we spoke in the village, at the meeting they reported full attendance and service delivery and the sector supervisor vehemently rejected the idea that there was any lapse whatsoever.  It became clear that there was deep seated corruption.  We decided to challenge it from the bottom.

    Village workers surveyed families door to door, filed RTI applications, met the district collector and demanded accountability in anganwadi services.  In Acchipolavalasa, the ICDS Project Director came to the village to examine the records and acknowledged lapses and dysfunction.  The officials promised to correct these.  Over the months of 2008, villagers saw more beneficiaries registered and some improvement in anganwadi services.

In Appalagraharam where parents had complained of worms in the food, the anganwadi worker promised to take more care.  In Tolapi where villagers complained that the teacher held the program in her home and denied access to beneficiaries, the center moved to a public place.

     In some villages, however where the anganwadi is functioning well, and we have to take care that the workers who are performing their duty are not targetted when pressure comes on the entire system.

Reference: Achhipolavalasa Anganwadi Enquiry Report: Telugu | English
Early part of campaign featured in Food Habits (video)