50% cut in child scheme funds hurting, says Maneka Gandhi

NEW DELHI: Women and child development minister Maneka Gandhi on Friday put the government in an embarrassing situation in Lok Sabha when she agreed with the opposition that the 50% budget cuts in the Integrated Child Development Scheme would affect welfare of children.

The opposition demanded that finance minister Arun Jaitley respond. However, she added that the cut was due to devolution to states and they also must pitch in. Maneka was responding to a question from CPM MP from Kannur P K Shree mathi Teacher who asked why the budget had been cut down from Rs 18,108 crore in 201415 to Rs 8,245 crore now.

Asking whether the minister would push for more funds, Teacher said that the Planning Commission had recommended a budget of Rs 2 lakh crore.

Maneka said: "There has been a curtailment in the budget allocation for 2015-16 by about 50% for the ICDS ... we are a bit worried as to where we can find the funds. We give to 24 lakh women Rs 3,000 a month, to the helpers we give Rs 1500 a month, and this money (Rs 8000 odd crore) will barely cover salaries leaving us very little space if any for training, monitoring and for building the Anganwadi Centres.

Unless there is a centre in a village it is very difficult for the Anganwadi woman to work because she has nowhere to be."She added, "Now that the finance minister is here, there is no doubt that I and the health minister will be meeting him to ask if he could restore the money if it is available."