SHILLONG, APR 4: The centre has directed all the states in the north east region including Meghalaya to submit their Annual Plan Implementation Programme (APIP) within the stipulated time frame that has been fixed for the effective and proper implementation of the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) in the region.
The Meghalaya government, however, claimed that is already in the process of submitting its APIP even as it proposed for the setting up of more Anganwadi centers across the state to cater to the needs of the targeted beneficiaries.
ICDS deputy secretary Gulshan Lal said, “We requested the state governments to submit their APIP for the early release of the required fund by the centre for smooth implementation of the ICDS programmes in the region,”
According to Lal, many of the state governments have failed to submit their APIPs on time which has become a matter of concern as the union government has been taken the necessary initiatives for the restructuring and strengthening of the ICDS across the country.
Lal was addressing the ‘Regional Orientation & Information Dissemination Conference on Restructured ICDS scheme’ for the three states from the NE – Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura held in the Shillong on Thursday.
Informing that the restructuring and strengthening of ICDS will be made effective in all the districts by April this year, Lal said, “This conference is in line with other five earlier conferences held in different places of the region to disseminate information and educating the officials and staffs dealing with the implementation of the scheme under Restructured ICDS programmes.”
Lal also urged the participating states to list out all the necessary actions needed to be taken so far as improving implementation mechanism of the scheme is concerned.
Stating that during the last 37 years, the implementation of the scheme have faced many challenges, Lal said, “We have decided to put all the problems in one place by introducing the Restructuring programme of the scheme which has to a great extent addressed the challenges.” He also informed that the union government will try to focus more on the new issues and areas which needs more attention.
Meghalaya social welfare department director HM Shangpliang informed the gathering that the department is ready with the APIP which would be submitted in a day or two to the state government who then will send it to the union government for approval.
Meghalaya has over 5000 Anganwadi centers spreading across the state which not enough if based on the population of the state. More mini anganwadi centers which will cater to a population of 150 to 300 children and mothers in a particular village are needed.
Earlier inaugurating the conference, Meghalaya social welfare minister Deborah Marak said, “The department is one of the most important department of the government as it deals in giving services to women and children.”
Saying many issues needs to be discuss seriously, Marak, however, urged the participating teams from the three states to take advantage of the conference to discuss on the related problems with special reference to the north east and also make suggestions on the steps and actions need to be taken up to address them.
Marak concluded by saying that there is a need to bring in the new and best mechanism to strengthen and improve the implementation of the scheme in the region so that the benefits will percolate directly to the targeted beneficiaries. – By Our Reporter
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