Karimnagar: Steps to reform Integrated Child Development Services

Karimnagar: D Divya, who took charge as the Secretary and Commissioner for Women, Child, Disabled and Senior Citizens department, started implementing reforms from grassroot level. Based on experience of working as the District Collector of remote districts like Adilabad and Khammam, her main concern is towards the most vulnerable groups and downtrodden people. This was evident from her first video conference in which she addressed the main issues to be taken up on priority basis.

Secretary and Commissioner Divya said that each and every family should come under ICDS cover and no single habitation should be left. She started digging into the past irregularities in the name of private individuals and consultants at Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS). She came to know that there is lack of supervision over ICDS projects in the absence of rental or departmental vehicles. It has been reported that a request has been sent to the finance department to provide vehicle facility to the regional district and project authorities. Divya's first attempt at reformation will be successful if the plan of action is designed in sucha way to force the contractors to avoid the food gap.

Addressing the district welfare officers (DWO), child development project officers (CDPO) and supervisors, Divya advised them to work with dedication and show sincerity in dispensing their duties. She instructed them to complete rationalisation of Anganwadi centres at the earliest in order to serve the needy beneficiaries. They were also told to focus on infrastructure as the urgent need of the hour. The target of ICDS is very simple to achieve if the whole teamwork force is committed, she observed.

The Secretary and Commissioner assured that the commodity supply will be streamlined to make the State as malnutrition-free. The recruitment process will be the top priority so as to provide not only employment but also to serve the poor without any problems. Haritha Haram programme should be taken up on a massive scale from February 15 to March 8, she added.