19th Aug 2019 10:08:PM State
Eastern Sentinel Arunachal News

ITANAGAR, Aug 19: Reacting to allegations of misuse of fund, levelled by Anganwadi and ASHA Workers body and demand for CBI probe, Women and Child Development (WCD) department, issued a press release on Monday terming the allegations baseless and giving clarifications thereto.
Through othe release, WCD department has clarified that regarding the under-construction of AW centre building, it has never received fund at the rate of Rs.4.50 lakhs per AW centre as claimed by Joint Committee of Anganwadi & ASHA Workers (JCAAW). Elaborating on technical details, it said that although earlier during the period between 2002-2007, fund @ Rs.1,25,000 per building for construction was received which was thereafter enhanced to R.1,75,000, no pucca building could  be constructed in a hilly state like Arunachal Pradesh with these amounts, thereby rendering the allegation of release of Rs. 4,50,000 per AW centre for construction totally baseless.
Regarding fund for construction of toilets, the department has stated that during 2018-19, Rs. @20,000 per unit (Rs.10800 as central share + Rs.1200 as state share and Rs.8000 as gap funding) was released to the Deputy Director(ICDS) for construction of 458 toilets with instruction to implement it through PHED department after proper Geo-tagging of the project. Fund @Rs. 10000 (Rs.9000 as central share and Rs.1000 as state share) per centre was also released for providing water supply facilities in 262 AWCs along with the fund for upgradation of AWC building @ Rs.2.00 lakhs per unit for 1000 units. No fund has so far been released by the Ministry for maintenance of AW centres and this is for the first time it has released fund for toilets and water supply and upgradation of AWCs, the clarification said, highlighting that it is not an annual recurring expenditure, as claimed. During 2019-20 also there is a proposal to release fund for construction of toilets and water supply facilities and all these releases are made through PFMS portal maintaining high standard of transparency, the release pointed. Throwing light on the department’s expenditure methodology, the release added that although there may be provision in the schematic pattern of the scheme for all components, fund released by the Ministry may sometimes not be sufficient for meeting the expenditures for all components and it is customary that on receipt of fund, first preference is given for release of salary and honorarium and the remaining balance is utilized for other items of expenditure.
As regards Nutrition Programme, WCD department has said that fund to the tune of Rs.1137.80 lakhs has been released to all CDPOs in the month of March 2019 for feeding children for 300 days and ready-to-eat food items procured from manufacturers have also been distributed to CDPOs on quarterly basis, all through PFMS to maintain transparency. Fund released by the Ministry from the month of March 2019 onwards is under process for obtaining budgetary support, finance concurrence and expenditure authorization for implementation of Nutrition Scheme which is a time taking process but ensures continuity in supply chain management, the release said.
Regarding the release of honorarium, the department reiterated that it is relentlessly engaged in obtaining necessary government approvals after which it will be disbursed to AWWs and Helpers through online DBT system and it always pursues the efforts for timely release of honorarium. There are 6225 AWWs and equal number of AW Helpers in the State and not 5250 which has appeared in media, the release clarified.
WCD department has also requested all Anganwadi Workers and Helpers to perform their duties sincerely for the welfare of children and mothers and in case of any doubt they could approach the concerned CDPO first, then the Deputy Director ICDS for clarification instead of going to the media without knowing facts.


Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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