HC raps govt,says Anganwadi staff not doing their work

“What do you do with the over 13,000 anganwadi workers? They are clearly not working. I just read this media report that almost 50 per cent of the children in India are suffering from malnutrition and we realise the situation is bad here as well,” Justice Lokur told the counsel for the department. The court further termed the situation as “tragic” that children were not being given proper nutrition and care.

The counsel had earlier submitted an affidavit in the court indicating the amount received by the department from the Centre and the state for the ICDS. As asked by the court,the affidavit also detailed how the amount had been utilised under specific heads and the beneficiaries.

The claims in the affidavit,however,did not move the Bench,which said everything was only on paper and that the truth was entirely different. “Your affidavit reads there is one anganwadi worker taking care of 30-40 children. You cannot tell us this. If you want,you yourself can go to any JJ cluster and show us any Anganwadi worker there. We are sure you will not find one,” Justice Lokur said.

While the counsel stuck to his guns and told the Bench that the affidavit was true and the financial records could be verified,Justice Lokur asked him if he had “personally” visited any Anganwadi centre till date. As the counsel replied in the negative,the judge said that if he wished,he could go to any centre right now and could come back in some time,for the reality would certainly be different from what the affidavit disclosed.

Toning down the intensity of his arguments,the counsel then said that “at least something” was being done for the children. “No,the situation is tragic. Benefits and services must reach those who deserve it and not anyone else,” Justice Lokur said.

Meanwhile,senior advocate Arvind Nigam told the court that the department could not be allowed to spend 52 per cent of the money in setting up distribution channels while only 42 per cent was being disbursed for the benefit of the children.

The court then refused to lend complete credence to the report and directed the counsel to get a survey conducted of the 20 “best” anganwadi centres. “We want a complete report and we give you the liberty to choose your best 20 centres. Submit a report with photographs by May 14,” the court directed.