The State Government has launched Atal Bal Mitra Yojna for bringing about improvement in health and nutrition of women and children and effective running of Anganwadi centres. Under the scheme, various activities will be undertaken through public participation.
The present infrastructure will be developed further through Atal Bal Mitra Yojna. These include land for Anganwadi building and premises, construction of Anganwadi building and rooms, repairs and painting of present Anganwadi buildings, construction of lavatories and boundary walls, digging of hand-pump etc. Availability of material for outdoor and indoor games, uniforms, fans, wall clock, furniture, utensils etc for Anganwadis will also be ensured through public participation. Financial assistant will also be sought from people for bringing the extremely underweight children to normal level of nutrition.Under the scheme, any individual or institution will be able to cooperate in improving running of Anganwadi centres and bringing extremely malnourished children to normal level. They can contribute in cash or kind. Mission Director at the state level and District Collectors in the capacity of District Mission Director will be authorised to receive cooperation money. Anganwadi workers will be able to receive material given to their centres. Bank Account will be opened in nationalised bank in the name of Atal Bal Mitra Mission. Bank drafts and cheques will be payable to State Mission Director/District Mission Director. Online facility will also be made available for depositing contributory funds. Things or material provided through public participation can be received at village and Anganwadi level also.
After receiving contributory funds from an individual or institution for improving Anganwadi at the state or district level or adoption of malnourished children, the file will be transferred to the concerning Anganwadi centre and its Intimation will also be given to contributor/donor. The donors will have the right to monitor utilisation of donation money for various works. Detailed information about Atal Bal Mitra Yojna is also available on departmental website.
In case of financial assistance to extremely malnourished child, pictures of changes in the child’s health will also be sent to the contributor. The contributors will also have the right to see children adopted by them at the Anganwadi centres. Monitoring will be undertaken at the district level by the incharge minister of the district and at the state level by the departmental minister. Progress reports will be submitted to Atal Bal Mitra Mission Committees constituted at the district and state levels.
The persons donating land for Anganwadi premises or cooperating in the construction of Anganwadi building will have the right to name the Anganwadi after the person as per their wish. Norms stipulated by the government for nomenclature will be followed in the process. Action will also be taken to exempt funds received from public participation from section 80 G of Income Tax Act 1961. Its certificate will be given to concerning persons, institutions, trusts and other donors.