Buffer stock of foodgrain clusters of Icds centres - burdwan shows the way

ICDS is one of the most successful initiatives for child & women care in our country appreciated world wide. In Burdwan, there are more than nine thousand ICDS centres to children in the age group of 0-6 years, pregnant and lactating women and adolescent girls.

Generally foodgrains, spices, oils etc are supplied from CDPO godowns by the agencies and vegetables, eggs, meat etc are purchased locally by the ICDS workers. Foodgrains are transported from the CDPO godowns to ICDS centres in bulk for two months by the transport contractors engaged for every project. It is noticed that some times there are either delays in supplies to some centres due to dislocation of transport arrangements/ supplies from the agency or mismatch of demand and consumption. This results into no foodgrains at some centres sometimes and the centres go dry for days/ weeks. There is mandatory directions to provide  Supplementary Nutrition to children and mothers for atleast 21 days in a month. Annual feeding days should be 300 days i.e. 25 days per month.

In order to achieve this, we in Burdwan started the concept of Buffer Stock of foodgrains for every 15 centres so as to take care of emergency supply locally. There are 600 Buffer Centres set up. This has ensured that no centre goes dry even for a day as ICDS workers of tagged centres can get the supplies from the Buffer Stock through local arrangements. Rice 100 kgs, dal 10 kgs, Salt 10 kgs, Oil 10 litres are the prescribed quantities alloted to each buffer stock. The stock is maintained by the ICDS worker in charge of the Buffer Stock centre under the supervision of Supervisors. Results are good and encouraging.

Burdwan's concept has been accepted by the state for replication in all the districts. Average feeding days per month is 25 days which is the highest in the State. Burdwan has also achieved 93 percent weighing efficiency and could track 3500 severely malnourished children at ICDS centres. All the children have been medically examined and treatments are under way wherever required.

Around 200 kids requiring surgical interventions will be covered under NRHM for free treatment. We are hopeful to get NRHM funds on the pattern of school health programme.

Good work Team Burdwan.