Dates of Visit:
17th and 18th
May’2012
Team Members:
Mr. Pradipta
Nayak, State Coordinator, IHRE and Member, State-Level Monitoring Committee on
MDM, Dept. of S & M E, Govt of Odisha,9437053329
Mr. Dillip Das,
Food Rights Activist, Antodaya, Kalahandi, 9437070038
Mr. Tapan Padhi, Secretary,
childright and Rights of Child Activist,9437635267
Mr. Pradip
Pradhan, State Convener, Right to Food Campaign, Odisha, 9937843482
Introduction
Thuamul
Rampur Block of Kalahandi district of Western Odisha is a tribal-dominated
block coming under Fifth schedule of Indian Constitution. This tribal dominated Block consisting of 16 Gram Panchayats, 256
Villages with 65767 populations (as per 2001 census) stands infamous for
poverty, illiteracy, extreme hunger and malnutrition. Almost all anti-poverty
schemes, Food Security programme and Special Projects are undertaken for
socio-economic development of the tribal people and to reduce poverty and
hunger in this region. Recently, State Govt. has declared this Block as
Maoist-affected Block for which “Integrated Action Plan”, a new project of Central Govt. for Maoist-affected areas
is undertaken for infrastructure development. However, this Block is still
inaccessible surrounded with Hills and deep forests. As per the reports of
Planning & Coordination department of Government of Odisha Thuamul Rampur
block is the third most under developed block of the state among all 314 blocks
considering all development indicators and due to the apathy of the government
functionaries the benefits of different development schemes seldom reach to the
poor inhabitants of the block. Basic amenities like health, drinking water and
education facilities remain as dreams of the villagers in inaccessible pockets.
While getting news from Media and other sources about
a lot of discrepancy, corruption and irregularities in food security programme and implementation of Right to Education Act in
this Block, a Four- Member Team of Right
to Food Campaign, Odisha Mr. Pradipta Nayak, Pradip Pradhan, Tapan Padhi
and Dillip Das had made a two-day
visit to some interior and inaccessible villages
of the Block on 17th
and 18th May 2012 with the objective
to understand the whole food
security situation of the tribals
in context of implementation of food security programme i.e, Mid-Day-Meal and Integrated Child Development Scheme and
Right to Education Act. During two-day
visit, the team moved through hilly tracks of the Block to reach
villages like Bhejiguda, Permanji, Podapadar, Karlapat, Dalguma, Purunagumma,
Simelpadar, Sapmundi and Melingpadar
village of Sagada GP under Bhawanipatna Block to understand the implementation of MDM and ICDS schemes and accessibility
of tribals to these schemes, situation
of primary schools and Primary Education in the Thuamul Rampur Block. The
details of the visits, experience of the Team Members and Findings is as
follows.
Implementation of RTE Act.
Right to
Education Act is being implemented since 2009 with the mandate to ensure free
and compulsory education to the children within the age group of 6 to 14. As
per Act and State Rules, the State Govt.
is duty-bound to ensure required no. of teachers ( one teacher per 30 students)
in each school , infrastructure like
required class room, school
building, drinking water, boundary wall, cooking shed etc. Though
implementation of the Act is about more than 3 years, a large number of schools
are still deprived of basic infrastructures and required teachers. On the other
hand teachers’ absenteeism has
posed big threat to the
primary school system in this area.
a.In Leling Padar village which comes under Bhawanipatna Block, the Primary school building has got
destroyed. The construction of new
school building is going on since last two years. The Team members found
extreme low quality of work done in the building. As per Govt. instruction,
School Management Committee is authorized agency to carry out the construction
of school building. But Muna Majhi, President, Village Education Committee (
SMC has not been formed till yet) said that the
school teacher Sri Apsar Khan who is habituated to remain absence in the
school for last 10 years, has come forward to take up the work ignoring the committee members and the villagers. The Teacher has become the contractor in the village. He uses
to come to the school to supervise the on-going construction work not to teach the children.
It was found that President and Members
of VEC are least concerned about it. As reported by Sadhu Majhi, Ward Member, SMC
has not been formed since 2009 after enactment of RTE Act.
When the villagers demanded for formation of new committee, the teacher told them
that president would not be
changed, unless construction of school
building is completed. The reason behind
it is that the President of Village Education Committee is
drunkard and it is easy for the teacher to take signature of President
for withdrawal of money from Bank as the
president is one of the joint signatories in the Bank. As per norm, the money sanctioned for
construction of building will be
placed in the Bank account opened by
jointly by President, School committee and teacher. As reported by the
villagers, the District administration
has sanctioned Rs. 9,17,000 and Rs. 50,000 for construction of school building
and cooking shed respectively.
b. Primary Schools like Bhejiguda,
Podapadar, Sapmundi are devoid of latrines, boundary wall and drinking water.
Though Tube-well has been set up in both
the schools, it is defunct for
years together. Despite several complaints by the villagers for repair of
tube-well, the authority has not taken
any step in this regard, alleged by the President of SMCs. Finding no drinking
water, the cook is using water from nearby Nallah for preparation of MDM and the children using
it as drinking water.
c. In all the villages,
the School Committee meeting never sits.
It was found that the members are
still unaware about their rights and
responsibilities as member of
SMC. Neither the teachers have discussed with them about their responsibility
nor has the district administration conducted any training for them. The
teachers are found deliberately
avoiding the meeting.
d. In all schools, the
villagers made complaints about long absence of
teachers in the school. Pada Nayak of Bhejiguda village said that the three teachers
Nipindra Bag, Ajit Katha, Chandrasen
Singh never come to the school regularly. However they come on rotation just to
open the school and serve MDM food. Similarly Bhataguda Project UP School, two school
teacher Ghanash Majhi and Santanu Majhi hardly come to the school and many
times they come in rotation. The student strength in the school is 60 with class - I to
7. Same situation is in Podapadar, the school has three teachers with 60
students. The teachers come on rotation. Wherever the teachers come, they
do not pay much attention to impart education to the children. They come
at 11 0’clock and leave the school after MDM is served.
e. The school environment
is in bad shape. The Class room and
outside area is very dirty which
gives glimpses of closure of school for months together. The school
teachers is seen very careless in maintaining
the school properly.
f. In Karlapata upgraded
School which has upto 10th
class with student strength of 175 has no kitchen room with shortage of class
room and defunct latrine. The teachers
are coming on rotation.
g. In many schools visited
like Melingpadar, Podapadar, the villagers complained that the school children
had not been provided school dress and shoes
till yet.
Management of Mid-Day-Meal
MDM programme
is one of the most important food security programme implemented for the children
throughout the country. It aims to provide protein and nutritious food to the
school-going children up to 8th class and ensure presence of all the children
in the school. Hearing WPC No. 196/2001 filed
by PUCL, the Supreme Court has
passed a number of interim orders to
provide cooked hot food
to all the school-going children
during school hours and also in summer vacation period in the drought-prone areas. Since April,2011, the State Govt. has issued
new guideline for effective management
of MDM in all the school with details of
type of food served in every day and allocation of quantity of food per children.
During visit to Thuamul Rampur Block of Kalahandi district, the Team Members
monitored food served under MDM to the
School children and availability of infrastructure like cooking shed for the same.
a.It was found
that number of Primary Schools or
Project Upper Primary Schools of Karlapat, Melingpadar, Bhejiguda etc.
of this Block is devoid of cooking shed. In Bhejiguda Primary School, food is prepared in latrine room and in some times under open sky. In Lelingpadar, cooking shed
is under construction for last two years.
The Members of SMC are not aware about amount of money sanctioned for
the same.
b. The
Members of the School Management
Committees of all schools are in
dark about allocation of quantity of
rice and
fund for MDM. When they were
asked about status of MDM and amount sanctioned for MDM, they expressed their ignorance
about the same. MDM is virtually managed
by the School teachers not by members of SMC. The teachers simply took their
signature for withdrawal of money from
the account. It needs to be mentioned here that
as per new circular issued by State Govt., an account should be opened jointly
by Head Teacher and president of SMC for management of fund allotted for
MDM. The SMC members and the villagers
in all
villages complained that the teachers
misappropriate money and rice
sanctioned for MDM. It was also found that
the teachers purchase dal, egg
and other items for MDM without involving the SMC Members.
c. In every
school, egg is served once in a
week which contradicts the instruction of Govt. to provide
egg for twice in a week i.e.,
Wednesday and Saturday .
d. The
Children complained that they were not provided stomach full food and food not
served regularly. In Lelingpadar, school
children have not been served food for several months. Teachers absenteeism
also makes irregular distribution of MDM
for the children in all schools.
e. The venue
used for preparation of food and food served is not hygienic. Cooking utensil
are in bad shape.
f. Many
schools like Bhejiguda, Podapadar, the team came across the tube-well but defunct.
Water from nearby Nullah( small
water stream) is used for preparation of food and drinking water. Many schools do not have
drinking water facility. The
villagers also shared that they had complained to BDO, Collector for repair of tube-well several times, but in
vain.
g. It
was found that Women SHGs had not been engaged anywhere
for management of MDM in any school . In the name of SMC, the teachers
have monopolized management of
MDM.
h. Cook
appointed to prepare food has not
been paid honorarium for months
together in Lelingpadar,
Podapadar villages.
Management of ICDS programme.
Integrated Child Development Scheme, best known as
Anganwadi programme is one of the
biggest programme for women and children in the country. It mandates to provide
protein and nutritious food to the children of 6 months to 6 years, pregnant
and lactating women and adolescent girl and check malnutrition, infant
mortality and maternal mortality in the country.
This
scheme also provides a package of services including supplementary nutrition,
pre-school education, immunization, health check-up, referral services and
nutrition & health education through Anganwadi centres. Since April2011,
the State Govt. has issued new
guideline in form of decentralizing the distribution of food items
to the beneficiaries engaging women SHGs
for effective implementation of ICDS programme in the state. Under the
presentation arrangement, the children
of 6 months to 3 years , severely malnourished children, lactating and pregnant
women are entitled to get Take Hole Ration (THR) from Anganwadi Centre and the Children within the age group of 3 to
6 years will be served breakfast and lunch in AWC in every month except Sunday . The Details of THR to be
served different category of the
beneficiaries as follows.
Category of beneficiaries
|
Nutrition
|
Amount per head (Rs.)
|
Quantity of THR per day (gram)
|
Quantity of THR per 15 days
|
6 months to
3 years
|
13.34
|
4
|
160
|
2 K.G.
|
Lactating
and pregnant women
|
17.79
|
5
|
200
|
2.5K.G.
|
Severely
malnourished
|
20
|
6
|
240
|
3 K.G.
|
Severely
malnourished
( 3 to 6
years)
|
6.67
|
2
|
80
|
2 K.G. per
month
|
The State
Govt. has issued circular to all District Collectors to engage women groups for
preparation of Chhatua (THR). In KBK region, older persons are entitled to
get meal once in a day throughout the month in Anganwadi centre.
While
visiting Thuamul Rampur Block, the Team
Members examined about
the procedure followed for distribution of Chhatua to the beneficiaries, management of AWC, food
served to the children in AWC, quality and quantity of Chhatua served etc.
a.The
Team came across gross
irregularities in distribution of
Chhatua Packets to children, pregnant and lactating women in all
the villages. Women of Podapadar village showing loose packet complained that
Anganwadi Worker of Dalguma Anganwadi Centre
sells Chhatua at the rate Rs.10/-. Per half kg. The
Anganwadi Worker gives one packet of
Chhatua in two to three months.
b. Women of
Bhataguda village said that Sarojini
Nayak, Anganwadi Worker who stays 2 km away from the centre and hardly visits the centre collects Rs. 5 /- per Packet of Chhatua. In fact as per
guideline Chhatua will be served
to the beneficiaries free of cost at
their doorstep.
c. The Team Members found
mega scam in management and distribution of Chhatua when they
visited Purunagumma village and interacted with Bishnu Priya Singh, Anganwadi Worker.
Sabitri SHG of this village has been given responsibility to prepare Chhatua
and distribute same to various Anganwadi centres in the Block. When the President and Secretary of Sabitri
group were asked about their business and collection of different items, money
received from Govt., they could not speak anything. Even they could not show their Bank Passbook.
In fact, Anganwadi worker herself is the
de facto president and Secretary of Sabitri SHG and
managing the whole Chhatua
business in the name of the group and engaging
members of SHG as worker in
packeting Chhatua. Anganawadi worker keeps Pass Book of SHG and manages their
fund keeping the members in dark about money received and spent in Chhatua
business. The whole objective of
empowering women by engaging themselves
in Chhatua business
has been defeated. Women groups are seen stooge in the hand of Anganwadi worker in the Block.
This is
not a single case. Similar kind of case was also found in Simelpadar
village where the Secretary and members of Om Sibaya SHG who has been given license
for preparation of Chhatua by the
administration are working as daily wage worker in Chhatua
godown managed by Anganwadi worker Manjulal Mohapatra. Sabni Majhi, Secretary
of the group said that they are working as
wage labourer in Chhatua factory run by Anganwadi worker and getting Rs. 40/- per
day. Anganwadi Worker runs Chhatua business in the name of Om Sibaya Women SHG. Records of account,
distribution of Chhatua, receipt of fund and expenditure is kept with Anganwadi
worker. The information about any loss or profit, details of fund released by
the administration to SHG is not known to
Secretary of the SHG.
d. Angawadi
cnetre of Purunagumma village
is used for packeting and storage
of Chhatua. It has become business hub. Pre-school education which should be
imparted to the children in the centre as per ICDS guideline, does not happen
here. The space is used by AWW for Chhatua business. Pre-school education is not imparted in any
Angawadi centre of the Block. Anganwadi Workers are found concerned to serve food to the children and
health check up.
e. Major scam was found in the weight of Chhatua
distributed to beneficiaries. As
per ICDS guideline, each child is entitled to
get two packet of 4 kg Chhtua ( 2
kg per packet) per month. Similarly, lactating and
pregnant women are entitled to get 2 packet of 5 kg Chhatua. But practically, women and children are not
served that quantity. The quantity of Chhatua served to the beneficiaries by Sabitri SHG is as follows.
Quantity of
Chhatua per each packet for lactating and pregnant women
as per ICDS guideline
|
Written
information on packet distributed by SHG
|
Actual
weight done by the team on spot
|
2.5 kg
|
2.125 kg
|
2 kg
|
Quantity of
Chhatua per packet for malnourished
children as per ICDS guideline
|
Written
information on packet distributed by SHG
|
Actual
weight done by the Team on the spot
|
3 kg
|
2.550 kg
|
2.400 kg
|
Quantity of
Chhatua per packet for children of 6
to 3 years as per ICDS guideline
|
Written
information on packet distributed by SHG
|
Actual
weight done by the Team on the spot
|
2 kg
|
1.750 kg
|
1.5 kg
|
Quantity of
Chhatua per each packet for Adult
girls of 6 to 3 years as per ICDS guideline
|
Written
information on packet distributed by SHG
|
Actual
weight done by the Team on the spot
|
2.5 kg
|
2.125 kg
|
1.750 kg
|
N.B.- In ICDS guideline, there is no such
provision of Chhatua packet for adult
girls. But the Team found such
provision of Chhatua for the said
group in this Block. When enquired,
Anganwadi worker of Simelpadar said that CDPO has authorized Om Sibaya women SHG to prepare Chhatua for adultt girls which needs to be examined further.
f. when
enquired about less quantity of Chhatua
in the packet which is also written clearly in the paper inserted in the packet which is violation of guideline, the Anganwadi worker
of Simelpadar and Purunagumma village on
behalf of SHG said that they had
received a letter from CDPO to
make packet of less quantity ( 1.750 kg in stead of 2 kg Chhatua) after deducting
waste, wastage and wire and tear.
g. As
per ICDS guideline issued by Govt. of Odisha, Chhatua
Packet for each section of Beneficiary
will bear particular colour. For example, Chhatua packet meant for malnourished
children will bear red colour and
Packet for pregnant and lactating
women sky yellow color. Packet meant for children sky blue color. But
it was found that all packet are plain with no colour served by
Dalguma Anganwadi worker.
g. It was
also found that packets are not sealed
but stapled. Information about details of item mixed for preparing Chhatua, Name of SHG with
address and date of manufacturing is written in English not in Odia.
h. It was
also reported by Secretary, Om Sibaya SHG
and ANW of Simelpadar that they
are procuring wheat from CDPO, Thuamulrampur
at the cost of Rs.4.91 per kg for preparation of Chhatua. It is
written in the ICDS guideline that Govt. will supply rice free of cost
to SHGs for preparation of
Chhatua.
After field visit, the Team tried
to meet Collector, ADM and DPC,
Kalahandi to appraise them about the
situation. Despite hard effort, the
Collector could not be contacted, though
his mobile continuesly rang. ADM’s
mobile is found switched off and he could not be contacted. DPC was contacted.
He gave time 4 o’clock for meeting on 18th
May. During that time, the team found his absence in the office. When he was
contacted over mobile, he switched off in order to avoid to meet the Team. At
last the Team members met ABDO, Bhawanipatna Block and S. I . of schools and
appraised them about above mentioned school problems and sought his quick
intervention.
Recommendation
a.Sri Apsar
Khan, teacher of Lelingpadar Primary
School should be transferred without
delay. He has already spent one decade
in that school making thousands of children illiterate remaining absent for long period in that school. He is the person who is responsible for
destroying generation to generation making our children academically crippled. Salary
paid to him should be recovered. Enquiry
into alleged misappropriation of fund and low quality of work done in
construction of school building should
be done as quick as possible and criminal proceedings should be initiated
against him.
b. As per
provision of Right to Education Act and Odisha RTE Rules, School
infrastructure like building , required classroom, boundary wall, drinking water, cooking
shed, latrine should be ensured to all the Primary schools at the earliest.
c. Teachers’
absenteeism in the schools for months together
has posed big threat to improvement of Primary education in rural areas. Illiteracy
can not be checked unless teachers’ presence in the school is ensured. The teachers remaining absent in the school
and neglecting in imparting teaching to the children should be penalized and
disciplinary action can be initiated against them. There should be system of
performance appraisal of the teachers through children’s performance in the
school examination.
d. The State
Govt. should organize training programme for SMC members to sensitize them
about their roles and responsibilities in the management school and MDM. Due to
ignorance of the SMC members, the teachers are found mismanaging and misappropriating
funds for the schools and MDM which needs to be checked through empowerment of
SMC.
e. It is
found that the school teachers are having nexus with BRC, CRC, S.I. of schools,
who are in charge of monitoring of the schools. To check it, there should be
independent monitoring team of Civil Society Organisations, advocates, retired
Govt. officials, eminent citizens, retired Professors at the district. This
independent team of Govt. machinery should monitor the schools and report to
the authority for quick action.
f. Defunct
Tube-well in all schools should be repaired on war-footing way and all schools should
have provision of drinking water at the
earliest.
g. Management
of MDM should be handed over to the SMC, not to the teachers. The teachers
should be warned not to keep money and rice of MDM scheme with them. Whenever
possible, women SHGs should be handed over management of MDM.
h. In view of
proxy business undertaken by Anganwadi workers in the name of women SHG, the
objective of the Govt. to engage women in preparation of Chhatua has been
defeated. Food business has again gone to
same vested groups who had been misappropriating and
black-marketing of ICDS food since years together. So the Govt. should
take steps to organize capacity building training programme for Women SHGs. So
that they will be able to manage their
business independently and gain profit
and contribute to their family income.
i.Less
quantity in Chhatua Packet needs inquiry and action should be taken against the
persons responsible for it. The beneficiaries should be provided prescribed
quantity of Chhatua as per ICDS guideline. If such discrepancy continues, it
will no doubt bring disaster in food
security of women and children leading to rise of malnutrition and infant mortality rate in the
tribal pockets.
j.
Information about packaging and name of the organization and its address should
be written in Odia so that the rural people can understand it and react in case
of any discrepancy. Providing and disseminating
information in English in Chhatua Packet
for the poor and illiterate masses is no doubt a colonial
conspiracy to befool
and cheat the people.
k. Anganwadi
workers of Simelpadar and Purunagumma should be warned to refrain from proxy
business. They should work
to develop capacity of SHGs so that they can manage Chhatua business
independently. They should not run the
business making SHG women as their daily wage labourer in their business hub.
l. It is alleged
that CDPO of Thuamul Rampur is selling
wheat to the groups who are in charge of
producing supplementary nutrition powder. An enquiry should be ordered
to find out fact and action should be taken accordingly.
