SHILLONG, April 4 NNN: The Centre today said failures of the state governments in the North East region to submit their Annual Plan Implementation Programme (APIP) is a matter of concern affecting the smooth implementation of the scheme Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS), a Government initiative aimed at tackling malnutrition and health problems in children below 6 years of age and their mothers.
On this, the Centre has directed all states in the North East region to submit their Annual Plan Implementation Programme (APIP) within a stipulated time frame fixed for the effective and proper implementation of the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) in the region.
Meghalaya government however claimed that it is already in the process of submitting its APIP even as it proposed for the setting up of more Anganwadi centers across the state to cater to the needs of the targeted beneficiaries.
ICDS Deputy Secretary, Gulshan Lal said, “We requested the state governments to submit their APIP for the early release of the required funds by the Centre for the smooth implementation of the ICDS programmes in the region.”
He said many of the state governments have failed to submit their APIPs on time which is a matter of concern when the Government of India have been taken the necessary initiatives for the restructuring and strengthening of the ICDS across the Country.
Lal was addressing the ‘Regional Orientation & Information Dissemination Conference on Restructured ICDS scheme’ for the three states from the NE – Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura held in Shillong on Thursday.
While informing that the restructuring and strengthening of ICDS will be made effective in all the districts by April this year, the deputy secretary said, “This conference is in line with other five earlier conferences held in different places of the region to disseminate information and educating the officials and staffs dealing with the implementation of the scheme under Restructured ICDS programmes.”
He further urged the participating states to list out all the necessary actions needed to be taken so far as improving implementation mechanism of the scheme is concerned.
Stating that during the last 37 years, the implementation of the scheme have faced many challenges, he said, “We have decided to put all the problems in one place by introducing the Restructuring programme of the scheme which has to the extent been taken care and addressing the challenges,” adding “We will try to focus more on the new issues and areas which needed the much attention.”
On the direction of the Center, State Social Welfare department Director, HM Shangpliang in his speech informed that the department is ready with the APIP which would be submitted in a day or two to the state government who then would send it to the Government of India for approval.
Sources from the department however informed that the government is preparing a proposal in its APIP stressing on the need to increase the setting up of more Anganwadi Centers in the state besides nutritional and health care facilities for its women and children population especially in the rural areas.
Notably, Meghalaya at present has over 5000 Anganwadi Centers spreading across the state which according to the population is yet to meet the demand. “We need at least more mini anganwadi centers which will cater to a population of 150 to 300 children and mothers in a particular village,” sources added.
Earlier, while inaugurating the Conference, State Social Welfare Minister, Deborah Marak said, “The department is one of the most important department of the government as it deals in giving services to women and children.”
Stating that many issues needs to be discuss seriously, Marak however urged the participating team from the three states to take advantage of the conference to discuss on the related problems with special reference to the North East and also make suggestions on the steps and actions need to be taken up to address them.
“We also need to bring in the new and best mechanism to strengthen besides improving the implementation of the scheme in the region so that its benefits will go down directly to the targeted beneficiaries,” the minister concluded.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/north-east-states-failed-to-submit-apip/
