Fourth Report

2.2.1. T here is an alarming lack of attention in most states to the plight of pre-school children with no satisfactory arrangement of feeding the most needy age group of 6months -2years. T his is an extremely vulnerable age group and also the critical stage when under nutrition can cause serious long-term damage to the children's physical and mental well being. Such children must be brought to the anganwadi feeding centre and given adequate nutritious meals. In Bihar no feeding of children under this scheme in the first few months of the last financial year took place, as financial sanctions were not issued in time. This year too, financial sanction for the scheme was not is sued as on 11th August, 2003. Such procedural delays increase malnutrition during the most crucial monsoon months.

2.2.2. In the order dated 28 November 2001, the Court had directed the state governments to ensure that there is an ICDS centre in "every habitation". We are not aware that this order has been taken seriously, or even adequately noticed, in any state. Apart from the much- needed expansion in the number of centres needed, the functioning of existing ICDS centres is also very poor in large parts of the country. It is only in states such as Kerala and Tamil Nadu that the needs of young children have been taken seriously and that most of the pre-school children have been effectively integrated in ICDS centres. It seems therefore that this crucial aspect of the right to food, has not received the attention it deserves.

Recommendations

4. Direct the states to comply with the order dated 28 November 2001, including the directions calling for an anganwadi to be available in each habitation, and for cover age of adolescent girls , pregnant and lactating women under the ICDS programme. (2.2. Pg. 9)

5. Also in compliance with the same direction, direct states to ensure that all slums are within convenient r each of an anganwadi and urban homeless children are covered in Anganwadis.