Malnutrition: Why rich NGOs haven't tamed it in UP

LHM

India has the maximum number of undernourished children in the world. Even more than Sudan and Ethiopia. And we call ourselves an emerging superpower! Of every thousand babies born in India every year, fifty-seven perish within weeks. In states like Uttar Pradesh (UP) that number soars to 73.

The National Family Health Survey 3 (NFHS –III, 2005-06) says almost half (46 per cent) of our children under the age of three, are underweight. 79 per cent of our young children nationwide are anemic. In UP, that figure touches 85 per cent!

Uttar Pradesh has the largest number of NGOs and donor agencies working in it. After putting in years of work and millions of rupees in health and nutrition programs, they’ve failed to make the smallest dent in the monster of malnutrition in the state.

Why? First. Instead of working together, they work AGAINST each other! Similar NGO’s with identical programs compete for work in ‘prime’ areas of the state. Hardly anyone ventures into backward regions like Bundelkhand, Vindhyachal, and Poorvanchal. They run massively funded, completely insulated development programs without any public debate or ideation. No agency exists to monitor their programs or provide direction.

There are allegations that huge chunks of program money are spent on overheads – salaries for senior staff, air travel and five star hotel workshops. Recruitment drives are not very transparent and often linked to networking, regional caucus and loyalty than to genuine merit and competence.

The real victims of such fraud? Grass-root level village agents - Aganwadi Workers and ASHA’s (accredited social health activist). Already, many of them fill 12 different registers, visit five different households, ensure pre-school education and timely meals for children - EVERYDAY. But government orders often force them to help run repeated NGO training programs, and maintain sundry records for different outfits. All that clerical work often leaves them little time to actually work with real villagers and bring about any real change.

The solution? Appoint a senior civil servant as a government liaison officer – to supervise the myriad ngos and programs running in the state. Projects should be approved only after verifying they don’t overlap with existing efforts. And should be spread out – so that even the least developed region and districts get their healing touch.

Surprise checks to review progress, recruitment based on merit and competence and throwing open program findings to public debate and scrutiny, will also make NGOs accountable, transparent and improve their quality.

(Sanjeev Kumar is a development professional and freelance writer. He is also president of Sarvarth, a national NGO; The edited version of this commentary was published in the Hindustan Times, Lucknow Edition on July, 16, 2009, Email: sarvarthindia@gmail.com)