The findings reveal that the monthly Take Home Ration (THR) distribution, which is a stipulated entitlement of the beneficiaries of Anganwadi Centres (AWC) to be provided by the government during the closure of AWC due to pandemic, has been irregular in nature. Having an overview of this irregularity during the first five months (January – May) of 2021, SPAN has undertaken a quick assessment of THR distribution during last five months (January – May 2021) of select 44 AWC from 4 districts of West Bengal (Jalpaiguri, Purulia, South 24 Parganas and North 24 Parganas districts). The assessment was conducted during 25-31^st May, 2021. The assessment has covered altogether 2262 AWC beneficiaries which include children of less than six years of age, pregnant mothers and nursing/lactating mothers. This assessment is limited in taking a very small sample and therefore it does not claim to present a holistic status of THR distribution from AWC in the state of West Bengal. But, even such small a sample, the finding raise concerns about the distribution THR which is of a paramount  necessity of the poor children to ensure their nutrition and food security in this pandemic time. The major findings are listed below for your kind consideration.

1. Among the total AWCs surveyed 31.8 percent of AWCs not distributed any THR to any beneficiaries in the month of January, 77.3 percent not distributed any THR to any of their beneficiaries in the month of February, 95.5 percent of AWCs not distributed any THR to any of their beneficiaries in the month of March and 59.1 percent of AWCs distributed any THR to any of their beneficiaries in the month of May in the year 2021.
2. Among the AWCs surveyed none distributed any THR to any of their beneficiaries in the month of April, 2021.
3. Among the AWCs surveyed THR distributed as per government mandate (2 Kg of Rice, 2 Kg of Potato/1 Kg of Grams and 300 gm Pulses) only by 43.2 percent of AWCs in the month of January and by 11.4 percent of AWC in the month of February, 2021. No AWCs among the surveyed AWCs distributed THR as per government mandate in the month of March, April and May in the year 2021.
4. In the year of 2021, 26 percent of the beneficiaries in the month of January, 84 percent of beneficiaries in the month February, 98.2 percent of the beneficiaries in the month of March, 100 percent of the beneficiaries in the month of April and 66.5 percent of the beneficiaries in the month of May DID NOT RECEIVED ANY TAKE HOME RATION (THR) FROM THEIR AWC.
5. During the first five months (January – May) of the year 2021 only 58.7 percent of beneficiaries in the month of January and 10.4 percent of beneficiaries in the month of February could receive the Take Home Ration (THR) as per the Government Mandate (2 Kg of Rice, 2 Kg of Potato/1 Kg of Grams and 300 gm Pulses per beneficiaries per month).

It has been observed that the distribution of Take Home Ration once again resume in South 24 parganas district in the month of June but it is doubtful that the due ration for last five months will be distributed to the beneficiaries or not. National Food Security Act, 2013 says the supplementary nutrition which is replaced by the Take Home Ration during pandemic time is legitimate rights of the children of less than six years old, pregnant and lactating mother. It is unfortunate that they were deprived from this rights during last five months and that too in the time of pandemic when nutrition is much needed.