ICDS tells CDPOs to ensure AWWs attend to duties instead of protests

Warns of disengagement in case of non-compliance
Irfan Tramboo
Srinagar, Apr 15: The Mission Directorate of Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), J&K today directed all the District Programme Officers as well as the Child Development Project Officers across J&K to ensure that the Anganwadi Workers (AWW), as well as Anganwadi Helpers (AAH), do not participate in the protests held across various districts on a daily basis while warning of immediate disengagement of AWWs in case of violation.
In this regard, Director ICDS, Rubina Kousar has told the concerned officers that it has been observed that the AWWs/AWHs are holding protests in District Headquarters under the banner of various associations for redressal of their grievances.
“In light of the representations submitted by their leaders, the matter has already been taken up with the Administrative department. The protests organised by these so-called associations are in total contravention of the meetings held with their leaders and the assurances given by them,” the Director said.
In the communication which has been issued in this regard, the ICDS has stated that it is impressed upon all the CDPOs to ensure no AWW/AWH in their respective projects takes part in such protests which not only creates law and order problems in the District Headquarters but also creates indiscipline in the department and AWCs are left un-manned with the result the beneficiaries un-necessarily suffer for none of their faults.
“It shall be the entire responsibility of the CDPO and the Supervisor to ensure that the AWW/AWH attend to their legitimate duties instead of participating in such protests,” the officers have been told.
Regarding the pending honorarium, ICDS said that it is the prime responsibility of the concerned CDPO/Supervisor to aware workers and helpers of the shift from Treasury procedure to a new method of releasing funds called as Public Financial Management System (PFMS).
“Almost all the accounts of AWWs/AWHs have been mapped on PFMS and releases will be done in the coming days. The department is fully aware of the difficulties faced by our field functionaries in absence of monthly remuneration.”
The officers have been informed that to overcome the problem several remedial measures have been taken and recommendations submitted to higher authorities.
While referring to the launch of the ECCE curriculum, ICDS Director said that it is the responsibility of the ICDS field functionaries to ensure enrolment at AWCs for imparting pre-school curriculum and undergoing ‘Unilearn’ training by AWW/AWI-1, supervisor and CDPOs.
“Keeping AWCs closed this time will initiate strict action against no compliance. Any deviation in this regard shall be strictly viewed and action, as warranted under rules, shall be taken, if so, the AWW/AWH can be even disengaged and action against the concerned CDPO and Supervisor will also be taken,” the Mission Directorate warned.