In the battle against malnutrition, the latest update on real time monitoring of development indicators of children in the 0-6 years age group in anganwadis through the common application software shows that just about five lakh anganwadi workers across states are uploading the data on the platform as of now using smartphones.
While this is an improvement over 2.10 lakh AWWs uploading data in February, the Centre is of the view that states need to get their act together to step up implementation. The WCD ministry is working towards greater coordination between ministries and states.
There are around 15 lakh anganwadis across states and the central government hopes to cover 10 lakh anganwadi centres through real time monitoring on ICDS-CAS by March 31 next year and cover all anganwadis by middle of next year.
The latest update shared at the October 10 meeting of the National Council on India’s Nutritional Challenges, chaired by minister for women and child development Smriti Irani, shows that 6.28 lakh smartphones have been procured so far and 5.01 lakh are in the process of being purchased. As far as the Growth Monitoring Devices are concerned, the update shows that 6.27 lakh have been procured, and equal number are under process.
The ICDS-CAS framework involves monitoring of every child with anganwadi workers uploading development indicators using smart phones and tablets and updating the same. The real-time data generated on the dashboard is seen as a measure of transparency and action to provide the required attention to children identified as malnourished. The updates shared at the council meet show that West Bengal, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha and Punjab have not initiated procurement of smartphones and in Haryana, Tripura and Karnataka procurement was “under process”.
There are 18 states including Delhi, Maharashtra, UP and Rajasthan where procurement of these devices has partially been completed. The 11 states and UTs where procurement of smartphones is complete include Uttarakhand, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Meghalaya, Goa, Chandigarh, Nagaland, A&N Islands, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu.
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