Effectiveness of Integrated Child Development Scheme in Selected Districts of Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh is a hunger hotspot, not only of India, but the world. Unlike the six African nations it statistically equals in IFPRI’s 2008 World Hunger Index, Madhya Pradesh has no recent history of civil war or political instability. How is it that such a ‘stable’ state with over half a century of democracy can have malnutrition indicators in women and children equal to those in Chad and Ethiopia, countries torn apart by civil war and ethnic conflict? Seeking answers to this question would show a much needed mirror to the true face of our democracy, which seems to have successfully expunged all ideas of equality. Given that democracy is the system of governance chosen by our founding fathers as the best answer to all our problems, it is essential to continue democratically pushing our state’s institutions into becoming more transparent and efficient, and to take responsibility for the basic rights of each of its citizens, especially all those that today have little to eat. This study may be placed in this wider perspective. The focus is on the coverage, access, quality, problems, and grievance redressal of schemes, of Integrated Child Development Services. The sample selected for the study is that of 40 villages, situated in 4 separate districts and 4 agroclimatic zones of Madhya Pradesh. The findings of scheme even within each agro-climatic zone are varied enough to prevent easy summarization, save for one: the implementation of the respective scheme on the whole show the true earnestness and urgency of the state and central government in addressing the problems surrounding food in Madhya Pradesh. So carefully have this scheme been planned and implemented in the last few years that conditions of hunger in Madhya Pradesh, especially amongst its dalit and tribal communities and among women and children, are far direr than ever before. This study shows the way that what is missing, what is moving and what has to be done and where in various state welfare programs to ensure that people at margin enjoy their entitlements with dignity.