Aanganwadi

WCD Ministry asks states to cut sugar in meals at Anganwadi centres

The Ministry of Women and Child Development on Monday said it has issued advisories to states to cut down sugar content in meals served at Anganwadi centres, with a preference for jaggery and less processed forms of sugar. Addressing a session during the 17th Civil Services Day, Women and Child Development Secretary Anil Malik also urged the states to monitor the quality and quantity of cooking oil being used in the supplementary nutrition provided to women and children. "We have issued an advisory to all states that you cannot have more than 10 per cent sugar in any food -- preferable is 5 per cent -- and jaggery and less processed sugar is always preferred and advised states to look at cooking oil also," said Malik, Secretary of the ministry. Malik's comments come as the ministry received the Prime Minister's Award for Excellence in Public Administration (Innovation category) for the Poshan Tracker app -- a digital tool that has brought real-time oversight into the delivery of ...

Parl panel rpt recommends creation of Anganwadi worker welfare board

The standing committee has recommended that Anganwadis be transformed into 'Saksham Anganwadis', which would assist in addressing the challenges of malnutrition in children

Rahul Gandhi urges Centre to hike pay, gratuity for Anganwadi workers

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has urged the government to increase the honorarium of Anganwadi workers and help retiring workers and helpers get gratuity. He also nudged the government to lay out a path to "progressively improve their working conditions and social security". In a letter to Union Women and Child Development Minister Annpurna Devi, he said the Supreme Court had three years ago recognised Anganwadi workers and helpers as formal workers, entitling them to gratuity under the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972. "Yet, the government of India has taken no steps to implement this judgment," the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha said. Referring to his recent meeting with a delegation from the All India Anganwadi Workers' Committee to discuss the challenges they faced, the former Congress chief described Anganwadi workers and helpers as the backbone of the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) programme who tirelessly served women and children by combating hunger and ...

Kerala ASHA workers live on hope as promised wage hike remains elusive

As women health care workers' protest enters 30th day amid political blame game, ADITI PHADNIS explores the Centre-state funding ratio debate

Anganwadi centres world's largest childcare institutions: MoS in LS

Minister said that to address these difficulties faced by the working mothers in giving due child care and protection to their children, day-care facilities are being provided through Palna scheme

38.9% children under 5 years of age in anganwadis found stunted: Govt data

Over a third of children under five years of age enrolled in anganwadis across India are stunted, the government has told the Rajya Sabha. In response to a question in Rajya Sabha, Women and Child Development Minister of State Savitri Thakur said 7.54 crore children up to five years of age are enrolled in anganwadis and registered on the Poshan Tracker. Of these, 7.31 crore were measured for growth parameters, and findings show that 38.9 per cent of children are stunted, 17 per cent are underweight, and 5.2 per cent are wasted. Stunting, wasting, and underweight are all types of malnutrition, which is a condition caused by an imbalance in a person's energy or nutrient intake. For the broader age group of 06 years, the data shows similar concerns. Of the 16.1 crore projected population of children up to six years in 2021, 8.82 crore are enrolled in anganwadis. Measurements of 8.55 crore children in this group indicate that 37 per cent are stunted, while 17 per cent are underweight,

Treat anganwadi workers at par with permanent civil employees: Gujarat HC

In a significant judgment that will benefit lakhs of anganwadi workers and helpers across the country, the Gujarat High Court has directed the state and Union governments to treat them at par with regularly selected permanent employees holding civil posts. Observing that the discrimination of AWWs (anganwadi workers) and AWHs (anganwadi helpers) with respect to government employees "is writ large", the court of Justice Nikhil S Kariel directed the state and Central governments to jointly formulate a policy for absorption of the posts of AWWs and AWHs in government service and to confer them consequential benefit of regularisation. The court passed its judgment on a batch of petitions filed by AWWs and AWHs appointed under the Centre's Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme between 1983 and 2010. The IDCS scheme envisaged creation of 'anganwadi centres' to be run by AWWs and AWHs for children below the age of six as well as pregnant women and lactating mothers. Despite .

Urdu made mandatory for Anganwadi teachers' posts in 2 Karnataka districts

Congress government in Karnataka has made it mandatory for candidates to be proficient in Urdu for Anganwadi teachers' posts in Mudigere and Chikkamagaluru districts

Over 6,000 kids, 232 pregnant women living in Manipur's refugee camps: Govt

As many as 6,164 children aged between six months and six years, 2,638 adolescent girls, 232 pregnant women and 753 lactating mothers are residing in refugee camps in Manipur and they are linked to nearby anganwadi centres, the government informed Parliament on Friday. In a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha on facilities provided to the women and children residing in Manipur's refugee camps, Women and Child Development Minister Annpurna Devi provided an update on the support being extended to displaced individuals at such camps in the northeastern state. According to Devi, 6,164 children aged between six months and six years, 2,638 adolescent girls, 232 pregnant women and 753 lactating mothers are residing in these camps. These individuals are linked to 271 nearby anganwadi centres. Under the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, aimed at supporting pregnant and lactating women, 103 women expecting their first child have been enrolled, the minister said. Of them, 70 women

Delhi govt announces closure of Anganwadi centres till Jun 30 amid heatwave

In the wake of severe weather and ongoing heat in the national capital, the Delhi government has announced the closure of all Anganwadi centres till June 30. This measure aims to protect the health and safety of vulnerable children and mothers. To offset the impact of the closure, the Kejriwal government will provide Supplementary Nutrition Food items as Take Home Ration (THR), delivering these essential supplies directly to the beneficiaries' doorsteps, including children aged three to six years who typically receive hot cooked meals at the centres, said an official statement. Delhi Women and Child Development Minister Kailash Gahlot said, "Given the unprecedented heat wave conditions, it is imperative that we take proactive measures to protect them." "The doorstep delivery of supplementary nutrition ensures that our beneficiaries continue to receive the necessary nutritional support without having to endure the extreme heat. I have directed the Secretary, WCD, to ensure complianc

Anganwadi workers, helpers to be covered under Ayushman Bharat: Govt

The Ministry of Women and Child Development has said that all Anganwadi Workers and Helpers across the country will get the benefits of the public health insurance scheme Ayushman Bharat

Interim Budget: Ayushman Bharat cover to be extended to all ASHA workers

Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana was launched in 2018 and provides health coverage of Rs 5 lakh to over 500 million beneficiaries

18,000 workers, dismissed on account of strike, to be reinstated: Nitish

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday said services of more than 18,000 anganwadi workers, terminated on account of their taking part in a state-wide strike, will be restored. Kumar gave the assurance to a delegation of anganwadi workers, which called on him at his official residence, requesting that the government consider raising the stipend paid to Sevikas' and Sahaayikas'. The CM told them that his government has been raising stipends of angangwadi workers from time to time, and in view of your request a respectable hike will be made soon. As per the social welfare department, the Sevikas' get a stipend of Rs 6,500 per month, while the amount is Rs 5,900 for Sahaayikas'. He also told the delegation that anganwadi workers who had been relieved of services last year, for going on a strike which continued for more than two years, will be reinstated. According to the Chief Minister's Office, the number of anganwadi Sevikas' who would be reinstated was 10,203, in addition t

Delhi govt to turn Anganwadi into early childhood learning centre: CM

The Delhi government wants to turn Anganwadi into an early childhood learning centre, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Thursday. Launching the early childhood care and education (ECCE) kit developed by the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) Delhi and Anganwadi team, Kejriwal said that children will soon be taught moral values and their emotional and psychological needs will be fulfilled at Anganwadi centres. "So far Anganwadi used to be considered to be a centre for providing midday meals and nutrition to children, but now, we want to change that concept. We will turn it into an early childhood learning centre, where children will be taught moral values and their emotional and psychological needs will be fulfilled," Kejriwal said. He further stated that the SCERT has prepared the "best" kit for the Anganwadi children to provide them with a proper early childhood programme. "The SCERT has prepared the best kit for the Anganwadi children. Every chi

1,000 new anganwadi centres to come up in Punjab: Minister Baljit Kaur

Punjab Social Security and Women and Child Development Minister Baljit Kaur Wednesday said the state government will open 1,000 new Anganwadi centres in the state. The process of recruiting 6,000 anganwadi workers and helpers will also be completed soon, she said. The minister said besides opening new anganwadi centres, renovation of existing buildings is also being carried out extensively. She said the recruitment of the anganwadi workers and helpers was being conducted fairly and transparently. The honorarium of Rs 8.2 crore for anganwadi workers and helpers would also be released within a few days, Kaur said. She was speaking at a function after the visit to an old-age home in Doraha, 20 kilometers from here. The minister reiterated that the state government was ensuring the safety of children, women and old-age persons in the state. The government was continuously making efforts for the welfare of women, especially pregnant and lactating women and strengthening the anganwadi

Parl panel slams govt over lack of basic amenities in Anganwadi centres

Govt has been under fire from key Parliamentary committee for paying Anganwadi workers, helpers inadequate salary and has been urged to increase the pay in a way that is appropriate with their labour

Maha govt to hike remuneration of Anganwadi workers by 10-20%: Minister

The Maharashtra government has decided to hike the remuneration of anganwadi workers, with 'sevikas' set to get 20 per cent more and helpers 10 per cent, state minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha said in the Assembly on Friday. The state women and child welfare minister also said vacant anganwadi posts would be filled soon, while new mobile phones have been bought by his department that will have the 'track app' to streamline operations. Health minister Tanaji Sawant told the House vacant posts in his department would be filled soon.

Agitating K'taka Anganwadi workers threaten to lay siege to CM's residence

The State Anganwadi Employees Association has given a 48 hours deadline to the ruling BJP government in Karnataka for fulfilling the demands of Anganwadi workers

Karnataka govt likely to follow Chhattisgarh's model of child care

The team observed the activities being done for the emotional, physical and intellectual development of children at Anganwadi centres

Anganwadi scheme open to all, Aadhaar registration mandatory: Govt

Anganwadi Services Scheme is open to all eligible beneficiaries and the only pre-condition is that the beneficiary has to be registered with Aadhaar identification