Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (MS)

Mangaluru, May 6: Sarees which were to be given to Anganwadi assistants and workers under the Poshan campaign of the Union government are lying unused in the godowns. Rats and rodents are making a hay of them.

The aim of this campaign is to make the mother and child get nutritious food for 1,000 days. It was decided to provide two sarees each to all the Anganwadi workers and assistants as uniform. Each saree costs Rs 385.75. But the workers and assistants have rejected them saying that the sarees look more like a banner.

Poshan Abhiyan is printed in huge letters on the saree. The logo of the campaign is in the design of flowers and looks like a banner. The Anganwadi Association has written that it will take these sarees if the government gives sarees which is complimentary to beauty. No action has been taken by the government for the past seven months.

There are 62,580 anganwadis in the state in 204 zones. In total, 2,56,982 sarees are being supplied at a cost of Rs 9.91 crore. At many places, the bill payment has not been cleared as one as the sarees was outrightly rejected by the workers.

Dr Kumar, zilla panchayat CEO of Dakshina Kannada says, “Workers and assistants have refused to receive the sarees meant for Poshan Abhiyan. So all the sarees are lying unused in CDPO office godowns.”

Jayalaxmi B R, honorary president of state anganwadi and assistant says, “It was better if an identification card or overcoat was provided rather than giving such a saree. It is better not to give sarees to honest people who work for meagre salaries than giving sarees which are cheap and cannot be used. That is why all over Karnataka all members of anganwadi have rejected the same.”