The Right to Food Campaign has recently submitted a memorandum to the Minister for Women and Child Development, petitioning for the resumption of hot-cooked meals as well as the effective implementation of anganwadi services.
The Memorandum’s Recommendations
The memorandum presented key proposals aimed at improving access to anganwadi services such as community-managed growth monitoring, supplementary nutrition, and immunisation. According to the document, these critical services should be rendered either in day care centres or directly at the beneficiaries’ homes.
Additionally, the memorandum endorsed the provision of a comprehensive package containing both cooked food and dry rations. It equally emphasised the need for protective gear for frontline health workers, including Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) and anganwadi workers, underlining their importance in the provision of health services.
Background of the Situation
With the declaration of a nationwide lockdown on March 25, the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) that was actively implemented in anganwadis, ground to a halt. This suspension negatively affected approximately 14 lakh anganwadis and over 8 crore beneficiaries, which included children under six years of age, pregnant women, and lactating mothers.
In response, the Ministry of Women and Child Development urged State governments and Union Territories to ensure that each beneficiary received a food security allowance. However, according to the POSHAN COVID-19 Monitoring report for India compiled in June 2020 by UNICEF, World Food Programme and the World Bank, 10 of the 14 most populous States did not manage community treatment of acutely malnourished children. Additionally, eight States were unable to measure growth parameters of children under six years.
The Right to Food
The National Human Rights Commission recognises the Right to Food as part of the Right to Life and Personal Liberty (Article 21). Article 39a of the Directive Principles of the State Policy mandates the State to ensure that all its citizens have access to adequate means of livelihood, essentially enshrining the right to food. However, The National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013, which legally guarantees the right to food, is not universally adopted. It entitles up to 75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban population to receive subsidized food grains under the Targeted Public Distribution System.
The Role of Anganwadi
Introduced by the Government of India in 1975, Anganwadi is part of the Integrated Child Development Services program designed to fight child hunger and malnutrition. The initiative provides six crucial services: supplementary nutrition, pre-school non-formal education, immunisation, health check-ups, nutrition and health education, and referral services. Beneficiaries of the Anganwadi Services Scheme are identified on the basis of Aadhaar.
Looking Ahead
As India continues its battle against Covid-19, it is critical to consider the impact of the pandemic on children and the surge in food prices. Accessibility to nutritional food, growth monitoring, and health services for every beneficiary should be ensured in a bid to mitigate these effects.
