A Parliamentary Panel today expressed concern over the lack of basic facilities like drinking water and toilets in majority of the Anganwadi Centers (AWCs) and suggested Women and Child Development ministry take the support of state governments in achieving the target.
"Barring a few states, majority of the AWCs in various states do not have drinking water and toilet facilities. Absence of such facilities would be a discouraging factor for the targeted beneficiaries," a department related Parliamentary Committee said in its report demands for grants 2016-17.
"It is now obligatory upon the MWCD (Ministry of Women and Child Development) to reach out to the ministries of Rural Development, Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water and Sanitation and also the respective states governments to get their maximum support in providing AWCs with pucca houses, drinking water and sanitation facilities," it said.
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The Committee also recommended to establish separate cell for missing children at all police stations and use of technologies, skills and training for the same.
"Separate cell for missing children should be established at all police stations. It was obvious that the police agencies, despite best efforts, have not been able to rescue and retrieve thousands of missing children due to various factors.
The efforts to locate the missing children need to be synergized to build up an effective and functional system where the various partners work in a concerted, coordinated and integrated manner. The Committee feels strongly about utilisation of advance technologies, skills and training for the same," the report said.
The Committee also took strong note of fewer number of in-country and inter-country adoptions even after the new guidelines announced by the ministry last year and emphasised to put in place a system of hassle free adoption.
"The number of in-country and inter-country adoptions have not increased at all...Despite formulating Guidelines Governing Adoption of Children, 2015, the adoption rate has not picked up at all. The Committee observes that the ministry should put in place a system where prospective parents may undergo a hassle free adoption process," it said.
