Anganwadi Centres to get transformed into Model Community Facilities

Jammu and Kashmir Government Wednesday rolled out an ambitious plan to transform the Anganwadi Centres into state-of-the-art ‘Model Community Facilities’ for the welfare of mothers and children in the state.

As a part of this programme, unveiled by PrincipalSecretary, Social Welfare Department, Rohit Kansal at a review meeting of theICDS here, 50 existing Anganwadi Centres in each district would be, in thefirst phase, transformed through convergence with MGNREGA into Model Anganwadi Centreswith upgraded infrastructure and improved amenities like toilets, drinkingwater and hygiene.

   

It will be then replicated at other Anganwadi Centres in theState to change the face of the Government’s 44-year-old children andwomen-oriented programme for efficient delivery of Integrated Child DevelopmentScheme.

Under ICDS, supplementary nutrition is provided to childrenin the age group of 0-6 years and to pregnant/lactating mothers with mainobjective to fight the problem of malnutrition.

The meeting was informed that at present, 141 projects arerunning under ICDS in J&K covering 29599 Anganwadi Centres. “Upto June2019, 779682 beneficiaries have been covered under Supplementary NutritionProgram in the State,” the meeting was told.

Speaking at the meeting, Kansal stressed on expeditiousimplementation of ‘Decentralized Policy for Procurement of SupplementaryNutrition’ under ICDS to bring transparency, accountability and greaterinvolvement of community in the implementation of the scheme.

Under the revised policy approved by the StateAdministrative Council earlier this year, supplementary nutrition shall beprocured at Halqa Panchayat/Municipal Ward level through Panchayats andMunicipal Committees. “The procurement of nutrition items will have to bestrictly as per the menu displayed in the Anganwadi Centres and to be procuredfrom Super Bazaar/Cooperative Stores/Fixed Price Shops/Registered LocalShopkeepers on the rates not exceeding the rates notified by FCS&CA,”Kansal maintained adding that the new policy has been framed as per thedelegation of powers to the Panchayati Raj Institutions under the amendedPanchayati Raj Act.

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