New Delhi: Union Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi has lashed out at the Odisha government over ‘non-utilisation’ of the ICDS funds, saying malnutrition is a major cause of worry in the state because a large number of children are deprived of supplementary nutrition.
Maneka also said the decision to increase the remuneration of Anganwadi workers was an “initiative of the Centre and not that of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s government”.
“Recent CAG reports have pointed out non-utilisation of ICDS funds in Odisha. The obvious consequences are in the open: malnutrition is a major cause of worry in the state because a large number of children are deprived of supplementary nutrition owing to logistic mismanagement,” Maneka said in a tweet Tuesday.
She said while the Centre approved the increase in honourarium of Anganwadi workers in October last year, the Odisha government announced it in the state only in January this year.
I urge my sisters working under ICDS in #Odisha to continue doing the good work and I assure you that the Central government is committed towards your welfare, be it insurances, remuneration or uniforms.
— Maneka Sanjay Gandhi (@Manekagandhibjp) January 29, 2019
“I would like my sisters working under ICDS in Odisha to understand that the increase in remuneration is an initiative of the Centre and not that of @Naveen_Odisha ji’s government,” she said in another tweet.
In September last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced a hike in monthly honorarium for thousands of Asha and Anganwadi workers across the country.
“The Union Cabinet under Narendra Modi ji had approved an increase of Rs 1500 per month for the Anganwadi workers. This benefit was extended to all 1.45 lakh workers in Odisha,” she added.