NEW DELHI: CPI(M) on Friday slammed the Government for not granting necessary funds for Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) which addresses key issues like infant and maternal mortality and sought allocation of Rs 12,000 crore for the scheme in the next budget.
In a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury said the present allocation of Rs 4,761 crore for the scheme was "too meager to meet the requirements".
Despite achieving a steady growth of 8-9 per cent, "India continues to be in an unenviable position of 128 in the human development index, because of high infant mortality rate, child mortality rate, maternal mortality rate, illiteracy rate among others", he said.
"In spite of this alarming situation, the government has failed to make the necessary financial allocation to ICDS, which has been addressing these issues, in the last budgets," he pointed out.
He drew the Prime Minister's attention to his assurance to expand the ICDS, enhance the wages of Anganwadi workers and helpers and to consider the demand for ex gratia for workers and helpers during a meeting with him last year.
After the meeting in August, 2006, the government set up a review committee to examine the demands raised by Anganwadi workers and it submitted its report around a year ago.
"I am constrained to inform you that till today, neither have its recommendations been made public nor has the government taken any action on the assurance given by you," he said.
Yechury demanded an allocation of Rs 12,000 crore for ICDS, which include Rs 2,500 cr for improving the conditions of anganwadi workers, in the next budget.
In a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury said the present allocation of Rs 4,761 crore for the scheme was "too meager to meet the requirements".
Despite achieving a steady growth of 8-9 per cent, "India continues to be in an unenviable position of 128 in the human development index, because of high infant mortality rate, child mortality rate, maternal mortality rate, illiteracy rate among others", he said.
"In spite of this alarming situation, the government has failed to make the necessary financial allocation to ICDS, which has been addressing these issues, in the last budgets," he pointed out.
He drew the Prime Minister's attention to his assurance to expand the ICDS, enhance the wages of Anganwadi workers and helpers and to consider the demand for ex gratia for workers and helpers during a meeting with him last year.
After the meeting in August, 2006, the government set up a review committee to examine the demands raised by Anganwadi workers and it submitted its report around a year ago.
"I am constrained to inform you that till today, neither have its recommendations been made public nor has the government taken any action on the assurance given by you," he said.
Yechury demanded an allocation of Rs 12,000 crore for ICDS, which include Rs 2,500 cr for improving the conditions of anganwadi workers, in the next budget.
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