Huge protest against unscientific implementation of Mathrupoorna scheme

 Anganwadi workers and helpers associations united to take out a march on Tuesday against the alleged unscientific implementation of the Mathrupoorna Yojana.

The state government's scheme to provide hot, cooked meals to pregnant women and lactating mothers, which was kicked off with much cheer has been facing the ire of Anganwadi workers who have to execute it.

The protesters, who gathered together from all over the state, marched from city railway station to Freedom Park.  

The workers and helpers say that the scheme has been implemented without seeking their opinion and without conducting study or discussions.  

They want the government to return to the previous system where grains and food materials or dry ration were supplied to the beneficiaries of the scheme.

The scheme is being implemented since October 2 but workers say that many women who are eligible for the scheme are not availing it.

According to the workers, the penetration of the scheme has not been more than 60% because pregnant and lactating women cannot walk two to three kilometers every day to avail of the free meal.

The workers also said that Anganawadi centers are just enough to accommodate activities of 30 to 40 children and are not equipped to cater to women.

They have made several representations to the Minister of Women and Child Development Umashree about the unscientific nature of the scheme but they have not received any satisfactory response. After the protest, they decided to approach the chief minister with their demands.