Latest news with #IntegratedChildDevelopmentScheme
Hans India
23-06-2025
- Business
- Hans India
ICDS mobile handset tender sparks controversy over ‘lack' of transparency
Hyderabad: The Telangana Women and Child Welfare Department (TGWC&WD) has become embroiled in controversy following the issuance of a tender for the procurement of mobile handsets intended for Anganwadi supervisors under the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS). According to sources, while the Central Government directed the provision of smartphones to Anganwadi supervisors under the ICDS scheme, and several states have successfully implemented this through transparent and competitive tendering processes, the Women Development and Child Welfare (WDCW) Department of Telangana appears to have handled its tender in a manner that raises serious doubts. This suggests the process may have been skewed to benefit a select few, rather than serving the public interest. Speaking to The Hans India, ICDS sources revealed that at least two complaints have reached the Chief Minister's Office (CMO), raising serious questions regarding the tender process. The complainants argue that established norms for public procurement mandate fairness and transparency. A critical requirement is that technical specifications should be generic and non-restrictive, enabling all eligible Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to participate. This fosters a level playing field, promotes healthy competition, and ultimately leads to the most favourable pricing, thereby safeguarding public funds. However, the current tender reportedly deviates significantly from this principle. The technical specifications appear to have been exclusively aligned to suit Samsung products, and, compounding the issue, the specific brand and model (A06 (4+64)) have been explicitly mentioned in the tender document. This raises considerable concerns about the fairness and intentions of the tendering authority. Adding to the red flags is the alleged deliberate avoidance of a pre-bid meeting. Such meetings are considered a basic responsibility of any tendering authority, particularly for tenders of this magnitude. They provide a crucial platform for OEMs and potential bidders to voice concerns, seek clarifications, and ensure equitable participation. Despite being a mandatory procedural step, the department reportedly chose to entirely skip this meeting, which complainants suggest indicates a clear intent to compromise transparency and equal opportunity. Furthermore, despite multiple written representations from various OEMs raising legitimate concerns, the department has reportedly remained completely unresponsive, a stance described as inexplicable and worrying. Critics suggest that this tender may have been designed not for the benefit of the public or the ICDS scheme, but rather to serve vested interests. In light of these concerns, two mobile manufacturing companies were among those who have formally complained to the CMO, urging the tender's cancellation. 'We strongly urge that this tender be cancelled and re-issued, following transparent and non-restrictive procurement norms. Public funds should be utilised in the interest of the people, not for selective advantage — not as a formality, but as a meaningful mandate,' they asserted. Key red flags identified •Brand lock = competition blocked: Mentioning a specific brand and model effectively excludes all other potential bidders, nullifying any scope for fair competition. •Unrealistic 10-day deadline = OEM exclusion: Imposing a short 10-day window for such a large-scale tender appears designed to hinder the participation of other eligible players. •Testing with non-GeM registered firms: Allowing product samples from companies not registered on the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) is a direct violation of procurement norms. •Minutes of Meeting (MOM) instead of mandatory Purchase Approval Certificate (PAC): Uploading a Minutes of Meeting without the required Purchase Approval Certificate (PAC) — especially one not signed by the Finance Department — is cited as a serious procedural lapse.
Time of India
20-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Kindergarten classes to begin at 250 anganwadi centres in Mysuru
Mysuru: The department of women and child development has decided to start lower kindergarten (LKG) and upper kindergarten (UKG) classes at 250 anganwadi centres in Mysuru district from this year. A decision in this regard was taken by the department to strengthen these centres and increase enrolment, as most of the anganwadi centres are facing closure threats. Many parents prefer to enrol their children in private kindergartens that offer education in English medium. Even poor farmers and others from rural areas have started to enrol their children in private schools in nearby towns, spending significant amounts of money to educate their kids. The department has also initiated measures to provide training to anganwadi activists to equip them to conduct LKG and UKG classes in English medium. Mysuru district has 2,913 anganwadi centres. The department plans to start the LKG and UKG in 250 centres across various taluks of the district from Oct this year. As the Union govt also started anganwadis 50 years ago in 1975 under the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) for the overall growth of children below six years, providing them with nutritious food, the department has introduced kindergarten classes from Oct this year, marking 50 years since the launch of this scheme. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Urologists: Men With ED - Try This Tonight Health Paradise Learn More Undo The state govt, which started Montessori kindergarten schools in anganwadi centres in Bengaluru on a pilot basis last year, has now initiated measures to introduce kindergarten in selected centres across the state from Oct. Among the 250 selected in Mysuru district to start kindergarten, the department of women and child development has selected 25 such centres in Mysuru city, Mysuru taluk (29), HD Kote (20), KR Nagar (25), Biligere (35), Narasipura (40), Periyapatna (16), Nanjangud (30), and Hunsur (30). The department has planned to expand the remaining anganwadi centres in a phased manner after assessing the response from both parents and children. The department has printed three sets of 50,000 books to teach anganwadi children in English medium by starting kindergarten classes. It also conducted the first round of training for anganwadi activists at the district level about teaching children enrolled for LKG and UKG in English medium in their centres. The second round of training for anganwadi activists for the centres selected for English medium will be held at the taluk level next month. Guidance books were also distributed to anganwadi activists. Before starting the classes, anganwadi activists were also asked to visit door-to-door in their villages and areas to convince parents to enrol their children in kindergarten schools. Speaking to TOI, deputy director of women and child development B Basavaraju said the department has made all preparations to start the kindergarten classes in 250 anganwadi centres from Oct and trained the anganwadi activists. "The opening of kindergarten classes will help the poor, farmers, and other residents in rural and urban areas by avoiding the need to spend large sums of money to enrol their children in private schools for pre-school education," he said. "As the department now introduced the kindergarten classes and permitted anganwadi activists to teach in English by starting LKG and UKG classes, it helped me enrol my child to kindergarten in my village," said Mahadevamma, a resident of Vyasarajapura in T Narasipura taluk.
Time of India
19-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Use, promote products made by SHGs: CS to state officials
Dehradun: Chief secretary Anand Bardhan has directed all principal secretaries, secretaries, heads of departments, and district magistrates to actively promote self-help groups (SHGs) by using their products and services. In a letter issued on Thursday to officials, Bardhan noted that under the Uttarakhand State Rural Livelihood Mission, SHGs are engaged in various entrepreneurial and livelihood activities in rural areas. Women's groups are particularly involved in food processing and running canteens, providing quality services while maintaining food safety and hygiene standards. He instructed that govt, semi-govt meetings, and other events at the state, district, and development block levels should, as far as possible, engage women's self-help groups for catering services. "For this, contact can be made with the project director or assistant project director of rural development," Bardhan said. The chief secretary further emphasized using locally made SHG products or items from the House of Himalayas brand as mementos and gifts for distinguished guests during official programs. Bardhan also directed that millet-based and other local nutritious products made by SHGs be prominently used during refreshments in official programs, workshops, training sessions, and meetings. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Kardiolog: Tento trik čistí játra a zajišťuje ploché břicho Dozvědět se víc Undo He added that SHGs should be given priority in operating canteens and outlets on govt premises. All transactions with SHGs are to be carried out as per the procurement rules of the finance department. Meanwhile, chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami held a high-level meeting on Thursday at the CM residence to review preparations for the 25th Central Zonal Council meeting, chaired by Union home minister Amit Shah, scheduled for June 24 in Varanasi. Dhami asked officials to develop innovative and concrete proposals that balance ecological and economic needs to ensure sustainable and inclusive development of the state. During the meeting, he emphasised the importance of focusing on children's nutrition, physical and mental development. "The future of children is the future of the state and the country. An integrated and goal-oriented plan should be developed for their comprehensive development," Dhami said, asking the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS), food security, health, and sports departments to work in coordination to provide nutrition, sports, healthcare, and mental wellness support to children. He also directed officials to ensure mandatory Ayushman scheme registration in all govt hospitals and asked the women and child development department to regularly review malnutrition and anemia cases and launch corrective campaigns.
The Hindu
17-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Karnataka anganwadi workers to lock centres, boycott work as part of mass protest on July 9
The Karnataka State Anganwadi Workers Association affiliated to centre of Indian trade Union (CITU) has decided to shut down the anganwadi centres and boycott work on July 9 as part of the mass protest organised by the anganwadi workers and helpers. State president of the Association addressing press persons in Kalaburagi city on Monday demanded the government to regularize the services of anganwadi workers and helpers, increase the budget for Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) and to revise the honorarium. Recently the Gujarat High Court ruled that anganwadi workers and helpers are entitled to be absorbed as permanent government employees. Considering this, Ms Varalakshmi said that the service of anganwadi workers and helpers should be regularized and they should be paid a minimum wage of ₹ 26,000 a month and monthly pension of ₹ 10,000. Ms Varalakshmi said that anganwadi workers were tasked with registering beneficiaries' details in the POSHAN Tracker application, which had made their job harder, the app has purportedly increased their workload. The other demands includes starting the LKG and UKG classes in anganwadi centres, filling up the vacant posts of anganwadi workers and helpers and providing basic amenities and infrastructure facilities at all the anganwadi centres, she added.(eom)
The Hindu
18-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Admission of children under way at anganwadi centres in Virudhunagar district
Parents have been urged to admit their children in the age group of two to five years in anganwadi centres where they would get nutrition supplements and dance and song-based learning. In a statement, Virudhunagar Collector V.P. Jeyaseelan said a total of 1,504 anganwadi centres were being run under the Integrated Child Development Scheme, where children below six years are given nutrition supplements and cooked food. The pre-school education through Aadi Padi Vilayadu Pappa scheme would ensure children's body, language, social and intellectual growth through dance, song and games. The scheme would be implemented for 12 months. The all-round development of the children were closely monitored and they would be prepared to go to school. Anganwadi workers were making door-to-door visit for enrolling the children. Parents were being asked to admit their children below five years. They could also get their Aadhar cards through the anganwadis.
