IMPHAL, Jun 12: Ministry for Women and Child Development has proposed 4 lakh Anganwadi Centres (AWC ) by 2019 across the country under MGNREGA in convergence with Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), said Meneka Gandhi, Union Minister of Women and Child Development at the All India Women Journalists’ workshop which was held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi on June 7.
She said, the existing AWCs without toilet and drinking water facilities would be provided the same facilities under Swachh Bharat Mission, by leveraging funds from Swachh Bharat Kosh.
During 2015-16, WCD Ministry has approved for construction of 29941 AWC buildings under MGNREGA in convergence with ICDS for 10 states, viz. Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Chhattis-garh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharastra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh.
Fund released for construction of these AWC buildings during 2015-16 till 31st March 2016 was Rs 18264.62 lakh. It is proposed to construct 4 lakh AWC buildings across the country in 4 years at the rate of 1 lakh AWC per year and it is expected to complete the same project by 2019. A private sector company has also joined this initiative under their CSR activities in construction of 4000 model AWCs.
Malnutrition is one major issue in India and it should be closely monitored from grassroots level. From next year, the ministry would launch an initiative called real time monitoring to minimise the chances of under-nutrition in children between 0-3 years, reducing the prevalence of anaemia among young children between 6-59 months, reducing the prevalence of anaemia among young women and adolescent girls between 15-49 years and reducing low birth weight.
Further she said that asystem for Direct Benefit Transfer, DBT of Anganwadi Worker Remuneration has started from April this year. In some States and UTs, greater inclusion particularly financial inclusion, de-duplication and reduction of fraud, curving, leakages has been launched to ensure efficiency in delivering process. Gradually the same initiative would be launched in the remaining States and UTs by July this year. This will benefit as well as motivate about 25 lakh women workers engaged in implementing the ICDS Scheme, Meneka Gandhi stated at the all women journalists’ workshop.