People's Democracy

National Workshop Calls for Broad Movement to Save ICDS

ON August 7, 2013, the All India Federation of Anganwadi Workers and Helpers (AIFAWH) held a national workshop on ‘The Need of Joint Movement to Save ICDS,’ along with its working committee meeting. President, AIFAWH president Neelima Maitra welcomed the participants. Leaders of the Centre of Indian Trade Unoins (CITU), All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), All India Agricultural Workers Union (AIAWU) and All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) participated in the workshop.

Professor Jayati Ghosh, a noted economist, spoke on the ‘Government Policies on Welfare Schemes and ICDS Mission.’ She said the government of India claims that the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) is the biggest ‘scheme’ of its kind in the world but it is so because in other countries it is a part of the public services like education and health. Instead of making it a part of the permanent system with adequate financial allocation, the government is now out to convert it into a ‘Mission,’ making it still more temporary in nature. India has one of the worst ranks on child development indicators. She said it is only because of the strong trade union movement of Anganwadi employees, with a clear perspective, that we could bring into focus the issue of malnutrition and not just the poor working condition of the employees. It is very important for India to save the ICDS and that much more initiative from the organisations of the workers, peasants, agricultural workers and women is necessary for that, she added.

A R Sindhu, general secretary of the AIFAWH presented a paper on the ‘ICDS Mission: AIFAWH Perspective and the Need of Joint Action.’ She said that the AIFAWH had been in the forefront of campaigns and struggles to strengthen the ICDS which ensures Indian children’s right to food, nutrition, health and education and also the women’s right to have crèches. The AIFAWH considers it very crucial for the trade union movement in the service sector to link its struggles for better working condition for the workers with the fight of the people for their right for better basic services. Along with the beneficiaries organisations such as the CITU, AIKS, AIAWU and AIDWA, the AIFAWH conducted a ‘Save ICDS’ campaign in 2008, when the government of India tried to make retrograde changes in the ICDS, which were detrimental to the scheme itself. A national convention to ‘Save ICDS’ was organised on October 22, 2008 in New Delhi and a joint letter was sent to the prime minister demanding the universalisation and strengthening of the ICDS. State level conventions were held in some of the states.

Recently the government of India has decided to change the ICDS into a mission. The main thrust is privatisation of the scheme --- on line of the World Bank proposal. All such proposals need to be opposed. The AIFAWH had taken up a vigorous campaign all over the country during the last five months since February 2013, distributed more than ten lakh leaflets and observed a Black Day on July 10. She said that the AIFAWH’s experience in working with the mass organisations is at two levels. First, it stands for strengthening the ICDS and, secondly, its activists help in organising various sections of the society like poor peasants, agricultural workers and women for the purpose.

While a note explaining the proposals of the ICDS Mission and the AIFAWH stand was also circulated at the workshop, Sindhu said the AIFAWH is seeking the help of mass organisations of the beneficiaries in order to further strengthen the movement to save the ICDS.

The possibilities of future activities were also suggested for strengthening the ICDS. It was about a campaign on the services in the Anganwadis, its importance and how to improve it, and about the demands for Anganwadis cum crèches, quality food, pre- school education, infrastructure, and direct intervention against the imposition of user fees in the name of community participation, against corruption and against privatisation.

Office bearers of the AIFAWH presented their state level experiences on various issues so that the need and possibilities of interventions could be made clearer. Saroj Sharma, treasurer, narrated the experience of Himachal Pradesh where nutrition is supplied only for nine months a year and where the Anganwadi workers and the local self-help groups are asked to collect the rest of the resources from the community.

AIFAWH secretary Veena Gupta narrated the experience of UP where contractors are providing the nutrition and now the ISKCON has been invited to start the nutrition supply. They are given free land, extra payment and concessions, since they refused to provide food at the rates according to the present allocation made by the government to Anganwadi centres.

AIFAWH secretary Santosh Rawal explained the Haryana experience of self-help groups where poor village women village who were given the responsibility to cook food, are paid only 200 to 300 rupees per month. She also explained how the government is trying to create rivalry among local women and Anganwadi workers.

AIFAWH secretary Kishori Varma narrated the Madhya Pradesh experience of poor quality supplementary nutrition and the corruption involved in it at all levels. Also involved in this corruption in providing the nutrition is an NGO run by the chief minister’s wife.

Leaders of the mass organisations responded to the presentations and suggestions.

CITU president A K Padmanabhan said that the 14th conference of the CITU has already decided to take up the issue and would be taking up all necessary initiatives for a joint campaign and movement.

AIKS general secretary Hannan Mollah appreciated the initiative of the AIFAWH in organising such a programme on such a crucial issue, adding that it is high time that we do something at the ground level. He suggested that a joint circular, in consultation with the leadership of all mass organisations, could be issued and similar workshops at the state level could plan future actions at the grassroots level. The 33rd national conference of the All India Kisan Sabha has resolved to support the struggles of Anganwadi workers and helpers and also the mid-day meal workers, he said.

AIAWU joint secretary Suneet Chopra said we must demand a legislation to ensure the right of children and mothers for the services of the Anganwadi centres. He assured his organisation’s full support to the struggle to strengthen the ICDS.

AIDWA vice president Jagmati Sangwan said it is very crucial for the women’s organisations to support the struggle to strengthen the ICDS, as a crucial part of the women’s right to child care. There is much scope for the AIDWA to take up such issues along with the AIFAWH.

CITU secretary K Hemalata, who is also vice president of the AIFAWH, delivered the concluding address. She emphasised the need of joint interventions to ensure not only the right of the workers but also the rights of other people.