Bhopal:Wednesday, December 31, 2008:As many as 19,511 Anganwadi centres will be opened in Madhya Pradesh in addition to the existing 69 thousand Anganwadi centres. This information was given by Minister of State (Independent charge) for Women and Child Development while reviewing the 100-day action plan of the department at a meeting here. The meeting was informed that presently 69 thousand Anganwadi centres and two thousand sub-Anganwadi centres (total 71 thousand) are being run in the state. Out of the 19 thousand 511 new centres, there will be nine thousand 691 Anganwadi centres and nine thousand 820 sub-Anganwadi centres. With this, the total number of Anganwadi centres will reach 90 thousand in the state. The opening of the new centres will provide jobs to 40 thousand persons, especially women in the form of Anganwadi workers, assistants, supervisors etc.
Smt. Ranjana Baghel laid stress on giving utmost attention to the implementation of schemes for nutritious diet included in the 100-day action plan set by Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Besides, supply of medicines to fostering mothers should also be ensured. Schemes should be chalked out for providing cycles to Anganwadi workers/assistants and roster system should be maintained strictly for ensuring constant monitoring. Awareness levels should be increased in malnutrition-affected districts by organising special camps and added attention should be given to strengthening of self help groups. She also called for organisation of Ladli Laxmi Sammelans.
Principal Secretary of Woman and Child Development Department Smt. Tinu Joshi informed that the department has already chalked out the scheme to implement all the points included in the 100-day action plan. She said that about one lakh women will be benefited by the scheme chalked out by the department for empowerment of self help groups as per point number one of the action plan which envisages extension of loans at reduced interest rates to women to make them self-reliant.
Other officers of the department were also present at the meeting.