PUNE – The indefinite strike by anganwadi workers in Maharashtra, demanding increased monthly honorarium and pension provisions, is having severe repercussions on child nutrition programs in Pune. The Supplementary Nutrition Programme (SNP), a vital component of the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) aimed at addressing malnutrition, has been hampered due to the ongoing strike.
The SNP, primarily targeting pregnant and lactating women and children aged 0 to 6 years from marginalized and vulnerable communities, is crucial for combating malnutrition. As a result of the strike, children and expecting mothers enrolled at anganwadis in areas such as Kothrud, Karve Nagar, and Bavdhan are reportedly being deprived of supplementary nutritional food, according to concerned activists.
Social activists and citizens have approached the Women and Child Development (WCD) office in Kothrud, urging an immediate resolution to streamline the distribution process for supplementary nutritional food. A formal complaint has also been submitted to the Kothrud WCD office highlighting the impact of the strike on children’s health.
Social activist Adv Amol Kale expressed concern that the strike, ongoing since December 4, 2022, has disrupted the distribution of supplementary nutritional food to children and women registered with the WCD center. He emphasized that the absence of this crucial support could lead to a deterioration in children’s health, potentially pushing them back into the category of undernourishment.
Claiming further disruptions, Adv Kale stated that striking workers are allegedly threatening other staff involved in distributing supplementary nutritional food, exacerbating the challenges faced by the program.
In response, WCD department officials are working to mitigate the impact and ensure nutritional support for as many children as possible during the strike. Dileep Hivarale, head of WCD Kothrud region, mentioned ongoing efforts to reach out to the maximum number of children, stating, “We are trying to ensure that no children are left deprived of the supplementary food due to the strike.”
The situation highlights the delicate balance between labor demands and the essential services provided by anganwadi workers, underscoring the urgent need for a resolution to ensure the welfare of vulnerable children and expecting mothers during this crucial period of development.
Sources By Agencies
