New Delhi: In order to maintain quality of
food being served to children in Anganwadis in view of
inflation, the Government plans to link cost of supplementary
food being provided there with Consumer Price Index.
Replying to supplementaries during Question Hour in the
Rajya Sabha, Women and Child Development Minister Krishna
Tirath said the government plans restructuring of Integrated
Child Development Schemes to improve their functioning.
Noting that during the conference of state ministers
in-charge of women and child development here in January,
several states spoke of need to enhance rate and indexation of
cost of supplementary food norms with CPI, she said effort is
on to do it.
Prakash Javadekar (BJP) sought to correct the minister
pointing out a difference between her written reply and oral
reply.
"In the written reply you have said that it will be
increased as per Consumer Price Index. But now you have said
it will be increased as per Wholesale Price Index. Your
written answer is correct," he said.
The minister, apparently caught offguard, said "WPI is
more" and sought to put the matter at rest saying "we will do
whatever is correct by taking into account both."
"The effort is that it will be increased as per the
Consumer Price Index. State ministers have made the demand. We
have said that we are going for restructuring," she said
adding the ministry is trying to work on these aspects in
mission mode.
On the demand for giving permanent workers status to women
working in Anganwadis, the minister said the government gives
them honorarium as they are part time workers.
She said Aanganwadi workers should be asked to only
perform the job for which they have been appointed and not
involved in other government projects.
Tirath said the ministry has decided to give workers of
even mini-Anganwadis Rs 3000 per month on par with Aanganwadis
if they are being looked after by one person.
PTI
