Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Dr. (Col) Dhani Ram Shandil said that more than 1.50 lakh children between the age of 3 to 6 years were getting pre-school education through 18,921 Anganwari Centres in the State. He said that children between 0-6 age group were getting regular nutrition in these Centers. He said that budgetary provision of Rs. 197 crore had been provided for proper implementation of these programmes during this fiscal year.
Dr. Shandil was presiding over the first meeting of State level child welfare and education council here today.
He said that efforts were being made to ensure overall development of the children of age group of 0-6 years in the State. He directed the concerned officers to ensure effective implementation of the objectives of the council in the State. He said that the State government was providing better Anganwari services in the State as compare to the other States in the country, but extra efforts were needed to completely eradicate malnutrition in the state.
Social Justice and Empowerment Minister said that Health and Child Development Departments would make areawise comprehensive study for eradicating malnutrition in the State. He said that the concerned departments would also sensitize the parents about the proper nutritional diets according the particular climate of the area.
He said that effective steps would also be taken for planned and coordinated development for the policies, regulations and other provisions of the Council in the State. Special training for all anganwari workers would be ensured for overall development of the children and distribution of nutritional diets would be monitored by Rural level Committees. He said that two training centres would be set up in the State for imparting training to aganwari workers. The proposal regarding setting up of four additional anganwari and supervisor training centres had been sent to the Central Government for approval. He said that State Government had been received Rs. 9.50 crore for training centres.
Director, Child Development Department Madhubala Sharma detailed out the activities of the Department.Additional Chief Secretary, Education Shri P.C. Dhiman, Principal Secretary, Finance Dr. Shrikant Baldi, Special Secretary, Child Development Shri Jeet Ram Katwal, Director Health Services Dr. B.S. Gurang, Head of Psychiatry Department, IGMC Dr. Ravi Sharma and other senior officers were present in the meeting.