Performance Audit on Implementation of Integrated Child Development Services Scheme, Gujarat

A performance audit of ICDS in Gujarat covering 2015-23, drawing on eight districts, 22 blocks and 99 anganwadi centres. The audit found a large shortfall in centres and in the children reached, buildings that are dilapidated or temporary, supplementary nutrition running short of its foodgrain allocation, and scheme grants parked in officers' personal ledger accounts while being reported to the Centre as spent.

State: Gujarat
Audit period: 1 Apr 2015 — 31 Mar 2023
Presented: 28 Mar 2025

Findings

The state was short of 16,045 anganwadi centres; average enrolment of children aged nought to six over 2015-16 to 2022-23 was 40.34 lakh against 77.77 lakh such children in Census 2011.
“Audit identified a shortage of 16,045 AWCs in the State. Further, the average number of enrolled children (zero to six years of age) from 2015-16 to 2022-23 was 40.34 lakh against the 77.77 lakh children as per Census 2011.”Executive Summary
Of 53,029 anganwadi centres, 8,452 had dilapidated buildings, 3,381 ran from temporary structures and 30 operated in open spaces. None met the required 600 square feet per 30 children.
“Among the total 53,029 AWCs in the State, 3,381 were operating from temporary structures and 30 were located in open spaces. Additionally, 8,452 AWCs had dilapidated buildings”Executive Summary
Against a shortfall of 3.27 lakh MT of foodgrain, the state procured only 1.10 lakh MT (34 per cent) from the open market, leaving supplementary nutrition 2.17 lakh MT short of its allocation during 2015-23.
“Against the total shortfall of 3.27 lakh MT of foodgrains, the GoG procured only 1.10 lakh MT (34 per cent) from the open market. This resulted in the implementation of SNP with a shortage of 2.17 lakh MT of foodgrains against the allocation during 2015-23.”Chapter II
₹242.39 crore of scheme grants lay unspent in district and taluka officers' personal ledger accounts as of March 2023, and ₹69.73 crore parked over 2015-19 was reported to the Centre as spent. 56.70 per cent of Child Development Project Officer posts were vacant.
“a substantial amount of ₹242.39 crore remained unspent as of March 2023. These funds were held in the Personal Ledger Accounts of District Development Officers and Taluka Development Officers... grants worth ₹69.73 crore were parked but shown as spent in the UCs provided to the GoI... 56.70 per cent of CDPOs positions and 14.35 per cent of Lady Supervisor positions were vacant.”Chapter IV

Findings

The state was short of 16,045 anganwadi centres; average enrolment of children aged nought to six over 2015-16 to 2022-23 was 40.34 lakh against 77.77 lakh such children in Census 2011.

“Audit identified a shortage of 16,045 AWCs in the State. Further, the average number of enrolled children (zero to six years of age) from 2015-16 to 2022-23 was 40.34 lakh against the 77.77 lakh children as per Census 2011.”Executive Summary

Of 53,029 anganwadi centres, 8,452 had dilapidated buildings, 3,381 ran from temporary structures and 30 operated in open spaces. None met the required 600 square feet per 30 children.

“Among the total 53,029 AWCs in the State, 3,381 were operating from temporary structures and 30 were located in open spaces. Additionally, 8,452 AWCs had dilapidated buildings”Executive Summary

Against a shortfall of 3.27 lakh MT of foodgrain, the state procured only 1.10 lakh MT (34 per cent) from the open market, leaving supplementary nutrition 2.17 lakh MT short of its allocation during 2015-23.

“Against the total shortfall of 3.27 lakh MT of foodgrains, the GoG procured only 1.10 lakh MT (34 per cent) from the open market. This resulted in the implementation of SNP with a shortage of 2.17 lakh MT of foodgrains against the allocation during 2015-23.”Chapter II

₹242.39 crore of scheme grants lay unspent in district and taluka officers' personal ledger accounts as of March 2023, and ₹69.73 crore parked over 2015-19 was reported to the Centre as spent. 56.70 per cent of Child Development Project Officer posts were vacant.

“a substantial amount of ₹242.39 crore remained unspent as of March 2023. These funds were held in the Personal Ledger Accounts of District Development Officers and Taluka Development Officers... grants worth ₹69.73 crore were parked but shown as spent in the UCs provided to the GoI... 56.70 per cent of CDPOs positions and 14.35 per cent of Lady Supervisor positions were vacant.”Chapter IV