Udaipur/Dungarpur- In Southern Rajasthan, the condition of Anganwadi centers, which are often considered the lifeline of rural India, is alarmingly inadequate.

A recent study reveals that 70% of these centers in Dungarpur and Udaipur districts lack basic toilet facilities, and even those with toilets often have unusable ones. Over 60% of pregnant women in these regions do not have access to ambulance services for deliveries, highlighting a critical gap in maternal healthcare.

This study was conducted in collaboration with Atmashakti Trust, National Consortium to Combat Malnutrition (NCCM), Aravali Ekta Manch, and Vagad Vikas Sangathan to assess the current status of Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) in Rajasthan, focusing on three key aspects: ICDS services, ICDS infrastructure, and ICDS behavior.

Atmashakti is a rights-based organization dedicated to the socio-economic and political empowerment of minority communities. The organization operates in over 12,000 villages across Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan.

Atmashakti currently serves one million families and aims to reach seven million families, covering 10% of the poor rural population in India.

Sharing the findings of the study, Tarachand Verma, State Advocacy Officer at Atmashakti Trust, emphasized the urgent need for substantial improvements in the infrastructure and services of Anganwadi centers.

"Despite being a lifeline for rural communities, Anganwadi centers are in dire need of upgrades. Our study of 139 centers in Nayagaon and Bichhiwara revealed that 12.62% of centers lack essential resources, 70.87% have no toilet facilities, and 36.41% lack safe drinking water sources. Additionally, 14.56% of centers are located 2-3 kilometers away from their beneficiaries, and 78.64% do not have proper kitchens," Verma stated. He further stressed that the lack of access to ambulance services for pregnant women in 61.65% of villages is a severe concern that needs immediate attention.

The study was conducted between September and December 2023 across Anganwadi centers in rural Rajasthan. A team of six researchers collected data on the availability, infrastructure, and implementation of services at these centers.

In the districts of Dungarpur and Udaipur, as well as in the blocks of Bichiwada and Nayagawn, 206 villages were identified for the study. The target 206 villages have a total population of 2,44,295 and 51,403 households.

The Schedule Tribe Community holds the majority of the population in the area, comprising 79.88% of the overall population. The scheduled caste group makes up 03.92% of the total; the other backward caste community contributes 12.34%, and the rest, 03.86%, belong to the general caste

Primary data was gathered through surveys conducted in the selected villages, which was later analyzed and interpreted using Google Forms. Interviews were conducted with local residents, and their consent was obtained before data collection.

Key Findings

ICDS Services

The study encompassed 206 villages in Udaipur and Dungarpur districts, identifying 240 Anganwadi Centers (AWCs). However, 139 remote hamlets require children to travel 1 to 3.5 kilometers to access Anganwadi services.

• Availability of Anganwadi Services:

  • 87.38% of villages have access to Anganwadi services.

  • 12.62% of villages lack the necessary resources at their Anganwadi centers.

  • 14.56% of villages have AWCs located 2-3 kilometers apart, while 47.09% have them within 1-2 kilometers.

• Operational Status:

  • 86.41% of AWCs operate from their own buildings.

  • 5.34% are functioning in rented buildings.

  • 4.37% of AWCs are neither operating from their own nor rented buildings.

  • 92.23% of AWCs are open regularly, while 4.37% operate partially, and 3.40% remain closed most of the time.

• Health and Nutrition Services:

  • 7.77% of AWCs have incorrectly conducted Village Health and Nutrition Days (VHNDs).

  • VHNDs are conducted once a month in 49.51% of villages and four times a month in another 49.51% of villages.

  • 7.77% of AWCs find it challenging to distribute iron tablets to beneficiaries.

  • 56.80% of villages face communication barriers and other issues, making it difficult to access ambulance services for health emergencies.

  • 61.65% of villages report that pregnant women struggle to access ambulance services during childbirth.

ICDS Infrastructure

• Building Structure:

  • 86.89% of AWCs have concrete roofs, while 5.83% have fiber sheets, and 7.28% lack proper roofing.

• Water and Sanitation:

  • 36.41% of AWCs do not have access to safe drinking water.

  • 33.98% of villages lack access to tubewells, open wells, or solar tanks.

  • 11.17% of villages report malfunctioning water sources like handpumps.

  • 7.77% of AWCs have damaged or non-functional water supply sources.

• Sanitation Facilities:

  • 70.87% of AWCs do not have toilets, and 25.24% of those that do have unusable facilities.

  • 78.64% of AWCs lack separate kitchens.

  • 99.03% of AWCs have weighing scales.

  • 66.50%, 63.59%, and 77.67% of AWCs have utensils, handwashing stations, and educational materials, respectively.

ICDS Behavior

• Food Preparation and Distribution:

  • 52.91% of AWCs provide cooked meals to children.

  • 31.55% of villages report irregularities in meal preparation.

  • 5.34% of respondents face difficulties in receiving Take-Home Rations (THR), with 5.34% of AWCs failing to provide THR regularly.

  • 81.07% of AWCs provide THR of average quality, while 8.74% offer poor-quality THR.

• Health and Nutrition Compliance:

  • 8.25% of women and adolescents hesitate to take iron tablets, with 14.08% and 11.65% citing dislike for the tablets and constipation, respectively.

  • Institutional deliveries are 100% in only 16.02% of villages, over 90% in 22.33% of villages, and below 50% in 13.11% of villages.

• Awareness Programs:

  • 3.88% of villages are unaware of the Mamta Scheme, and 4.85% are unaware of the Janani Suraksha Yojana.

  • Approximately 96.60% of villages utilize kitchen gardens.

Recommendations

• Immediate expansion of Anganwadi centers according to population ratios as per the Ministry of Women and Child Development standards.

  • Repair and construction of safe drinking water sources at all AWCs.

  • Construction and maintenance of toilets at AWCs where such facilities are either non-existent or unusable.

  • Construction of well-equipped kitchens at AWCs should be a priority.

  • Immediate repair and renovation of dilapidated and damaged AWCs.

  • Maintaining a child-to-worker ratio of 15:1 per Anganwadi worker and helper to prioritize child care and development.

  • Improvement of communication resources to ensure access to medical facilities for rural residents.

  • Reduction of the distance between beneficiaries and AWCs to 1-4 kilometers to ensure accessibility.

What are Anganwadi Centers?

Anganwadi is an institution providing various healthcare, nutrition, and educational services vital for expectant mothers and children under six in rural and urban areas. The Indian government established Anganwadi centers to prevent malnutrition, promote early childhood education, and safeguard mothers' health. They serve as community centers and offer immunizations, health exams, and extra nourishment. These programs are implemented by Anganwadi workers, who enhance the growth and general well-being of underprivileged communities. Despite its challenges, the Anganwadi system, which supports mothers' health and children's overall development, remains a major pillar of India's social welfare program.