THE LIGHT OF ANDAMANS | VOL 36 | ISSUE 03 | 01 NOV 2012
PAUPER’S
LOG
Durbar and Durbaries
By
Abu Arsh
In a recent press release the Administration
has posted a picture of the Administrator conducting his weekly Durbar with
five Anganwadi workers all clad in pink sarees. A mix of elderly and young
ladies was all shown as standing in the picture with the Lt. Governor and his
Secretary seated. The Lt. Governor, A
& N Islands
The Anganwadi System under ICDS is a
Government of India sponsored programme, which is India Islands post tsunami of 2004, it was these very services
which attracted a majority of the NGO's to pour in their interventions. Over
the years it has grown into one of the largest integrated family and community
welfare schemes in the world.
Our islands have over 604 Anganwadi Centres
spread across the length and breadth of it with equal no of Anganwadi workers
and helpers. These ladies serve as a key link between the community and the
Social Welfare and Health Departments. These ladies also embark upon various
surveys for the National Rural Health Mission from time to time. For the Social
Welfare department for children upto six years the programme offers six
packages including Supplementary nutrition, Immunization, Referral services,
Non-formal pre education, Health checkups and Health and Nutrition Education
for Children. Under Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for empowerment of Girl Child as SABLA
supplementary nutrition is provided to adolescent girl child of 14-18 years and
for 11- 14 years drop out girls are also enrolled. Pregnant and Nursing mothers
are also cared for under Indira Gandhi Maitrik Sanjog Yojana where in Rs 4000
assistance is given to mothers in three installments in their bank accounts.
Anganwadi workers deliver services to these mothers by maintaining their
pregnancy cards, immunization schedules and nutritional requirements. Delivery
of services under ICDS scheme is managed in an integrated manner through
Anganwadi centre by these Anganwadi workers.
Going through the services these Anganwadi
workers offer to the community it would have been minimum courtesy on the part
of the Lt. Governor's secretariat to atleast release a photograph (irrespective
of what happened at the Durbar; whether these ladies were offered seats or not
) depicting them in a more respectable vein for the place they deserve in the
society. This would have given these ladies the encouragement and the desire to
offer selfless service to the society in strengthening our National Policy for
Children. Our Administration boosts of innumerable babus glued to their chairs
by virtue of their incompetence and great degree of yesmanship towards their
bosses. On and off meetings of the common Islanders with the Lt. Governor would
have been coined by one of these Babu's as weekly Durbar. Durbar in this day
and age sounds medieval, feudal and smells of our colonial mindset hangover.
These Durbars here takes place as per the convenience of the bosses and its
frequency is anybody's guess. Calling on the Administrator is no easy task as
the famous reply to audience seekers or the subjects is to meet the concerned
Babu than meeting the Raj Niwas' most important occupant. The ambience around
the majestic Durbar is intimidating to the common man with high security,
innumerable hassles, busy for nothing staff jostling each other, polished
padauk furniture (would lose its sheen if touched) and the uncertain wait till
the Raj Niwas' most important occupant surfaces. Nobody would ask the common
subjects to have a seat and if the Durbaries don't offer you one be content to
quickly put across your plea and vanish. So much so, for power to the
people.
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