Too few staff in govt dept for efficient work

Shortage of staff in the Department of Women and Child Development is affecting the implementation of various welfare programmes in the district.

Of the 105 sanctioned posts, 72 vacancies have been lying vacant the last several years. There are only 34 officials functioning in the Department. Even the post of the deputy director is lying vacant. H Mamtaz is the deputy director in-charge of the Women and Child Development Department in the district.

The Department officials need to monitor the committees on Bala Vikasa Samithi, supply of nutritious food, implementation of Ksheera Bhagya, Arivu programme, Prevention of Domestic Violence Act, providing justice to children who are victims of assault under the Pocso Act, prevention of trafficking of women and children and maintenance of destitute homes for children and others. A total of six senior monitoring officers post have been sanctioned to the district – two of which are lying vacant.

“It has become difficult to maintain anganwadi centres. There are hurdles in the distribution of bonds under the Bhagyalakshmi scheme. The posts of CDPO are lying vacant in Somwarpet, Virajpet and Madikeri taluks. Even the posts of project director, FDO and DSO have not been filled completely,” said an official.

Rented buildings

“There are 871 anganwadi centres in Kodagu district, of which 692 centres function in their own buildings. A total of 179 anganwadi centres do not have own buildings. As many as 68 centres function from rented buildings, 16 in a school buildings and 12 from a panchayat buildings. Only 170 centres that have been selected as Balasnehi centres are in good condition, while majority of the buildings cry for attention. Grant of Rs 50,000 is not sufficient for the repair of the building. If the amount is hiked, then the buildings can be repaired,” feels an officer.

Another official told DH, “Grants have been earmarked for 102 anganwadi centres to construct own buildings. However, there is scarcity of space for the construction of buildings in Madikeri, Somwarpet and Virajpet. Deputy Commissioner Dr Richard Vincent D’Souza has directed tahsildars to identify the land and hand it over to the Department of Women and Child Development on priority basis. Of the 22 buildings that are under construction stage, three have been completed.”

An official, on the condition of anonymity, said, “No one in rural areas is interested to serve as an anganwadi worker and assistant. Many feel that the wages in coffee estate in higher than the honorarium paid to an anganwadi worker.”