: The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has directed the district magistrate of Malkangiri to conduct an investigation into the alleged irregularities in the implementation of Integrated Child Development Scheme in the district.
Taking note of the fact finding report submitted by the Right to Food campaign, Odisha, the Commission pointed out the as per the report, many irregularities had deprived children of their legitimate rights.
“Many Anganwadi centres do not have their own buildings even though funds were sanctioned for their construction. The construction of the buildings has not been completed in the last four years due to misappropriation of funds by the contractors in collusion with block officials,” alleged Pradip Pradhan, convenor of Right To Food campaign, in his complaint to NCPCR.
Mr. Pradhan maintained, “The centres are run from the veranda of the residents of the Anganwadi workers.”
“Similarly, the Anganwadi centres of the Dantipada and the Mudulipada village located in the hills of Khairput Block, which houses the Bonda tribes, one of the most primitive tribes in the country, have not had their own building for the last 40 years. Bonda children are neither fed properly nor provided pre-school education,” he said.
According to campaign members, under the ICDS programme, each child is entitled to get food in the Anganwadi centre free of cost, but the rights of the tribal children, who are the most vulnerable section of society, are denied nutritious food in the Malkangiri district.
The Commission has directed the Malkanagiri district magistrate to immediately submit the investigation report.
