'Delay in Honorariums of Lady Supervisors and Anganwadi Workers'

Q: Has the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) in place of Take Home Ration and Hot Cooked Meals, been disbursed to beneficiary accounts?

Child Development Project Officer (CDPO): Yes, the process of sending money via DBT has started; we have given all the details of the beneficiaries to the bank. Aadhaar details had to be linked which is why DBT could not take place in March and April. But, as many as 98 per cent of the people have received money via DBT since May. [Accountability Initiative has not independently confirmed the transactions]

Q: Have you been able to commence routine work yet?

CDPO: Anganwadi centres are closed. Routine activities like immunisation, and Village Health Sanitation and Nutrition Day though are being carried out.

All activities are happening with the help of the ICDS-CAS app.

Q: How do you think the disruption of services will impact nutrition in the coming months?

CDPO: Vaccination could not happen only for one month, that is April. So, I don’t think nutrition has been majorly impacted. We have also maintained a list of children who missed vaccination.

Q: Are you receiving any additional monetary, insurance incentives for COVID-19 work? If not, have you asked for such incentives?

CDPO: No, we have not received any such benefits from the government, neither have we asked for it. Sevikas demanded additional benefits and they have got it.

The honorarium for Lady Supervisors and Anganwadi Workers is not being given on time, and they have expressed concern over this, but nobody is paying attention. We tell them - 'do the work, you will get the honorarium'. We can't say anything else!

Q: Have trainings been held for you in the past 4 months?

CDPO: Yes, it was on what to do if pregnant women, children or anyone else suspects COVID-19. They used a powerpoint presentation and video.

This interview was conducted with a CDPO in Nalanda, Bihar in Hindi on 13 July 2020, and has been translated.

Source: Directorate of Women & Child Development, Madhya Pradesh