Under the Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao campaign in Haryana, all the women sarpanches of the state will be made brand ambassadors of their respective villages. In the next five years, 10 thousand Anganwadi centers will be developed as capable Anganwadi centers.
Anganwadi centers will be upgraded
Chief Minister Naib Singh Saini said in a review meeting with Women and Child Development Minister Shruti Chaudhary on Thursday that a grant of Rs 5 crore 63 lakh has been received from the Government of India to upgrade 563 Anganwadi centers to capable Anganwadi centers.
The department has also sent another proposal to the Government of India to upgrade 2307 Anganwadi centers. He said that street plays and other programs should be organized in villages to save girl children by strictly implementing the PNDT Act 1994.
Government strict to stop female foeticide
All the women of the village should be invited in these programs, which should be addressed by the oldest women of the community. Expressing concern over the use of handheld USG machines for sex determination, the Chief Minister directed to prepare an effective strategy to keep an eye on those involved in this illegal work and take strict action against them.
It was told in the meeting that a total of 1,220 FIRs have been registered since 2015 to prevent female foeticide and ensure compliance with the Pre-Conception and Prenatal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act.
Additionally, 386 FIRs have been registered through inter-state raids and 4,000 arrests have been made by targeting the illegal activities of doctors, quacks and brokers.
Target to rank among three states in Poshan Abhiyan
The Chief Minister said that the state government aims to rank among the top three states in the country in the Poshan Abhiyan. He suggested organizing various competitions for children in the age group of 01-06 years at the block, district and state level under Poshan 2.0, in which the winners will be honored with prizes.
While reviewing the functioning of Anganwadi centres, the Chief Minister directed that the centres which do not have their own building should be shifted to unused or underutilised school and other buildings till their own buildings are constructed. All necessary facilities should be ensured at these temporary locations.
25,962 Anganwadi Centres in Haryana
There are 25,962 Anganwadi centres in the state, manned by 23,447 Anganwadi workers and 21,127 Anganwadi helpers. The Women and Child Development Department has implemented various schemes to improve nutrition among children.
Under the Mukhyamantri Dudh Uphaar Yojana, a variety of food items including instant kheer, protein milk bars and skimmed milk powder are being provided to children (1-6 years) as well as pregnant and lactating mothers. A budget provision of Rs 200 crore has been made for the financial year 2024-25.
