State allows social, corporate entities to adopt anganwadis
| Date :10-Oct-2022 |
Staff Reporter
In order to enhance the standard and improve infrastructure of more than one lakh anganwadis across Maharashtra, the State Government has floated a policy under which social and corporate entities may ‘adopt’ the anganwadis. Though the detailed guidelines regarding registration and recognition of such entities are still awaited, the policy decision has been conveyed to the administrative machinery.
In 2017, the State Government had launched ‘Model Anganwadi Scheme’ to enhance standard of, and facilities at, anganwadis. Under the scheme, anganwadis were to be provided with solar power set, educational material, e-learning tools, basic infrastructure, LED television with USB port and pen drive, chairs and tables for children, water purifier with emphasis on maintenance of cleanliness and hygiene, beautification, painting, minor repairs etc.
Now, considering the need for strengthening the anganwadis ‘with peoples participation’, State’s Woman and Child Development Department has come up with ‘Adoption of Anganwadi’ policy under which corporate entities can invest through corporate social responsibility fund, non-Government voluntary organisations, trusts, Rotary Club, Lions Club etc, and individuals/families/groups can invest in ramping up infrastructure of anganwadis.
These entities can invest in physical infrastructure, educational infrastructure, making available necessary material required for quality enhancement or repairs of equipment, training and skill development, health examination and related facilities, and other assistance. Under various of these heads, the investors may provide for painting of anganwadi building, compound of the premises, repairs, construction/repairs of toilet/water tank etc, drinking water facility, cooking utensils, electric fan, safety cooler, pre-school toy-sets of Indian make, colour television set, activity books, weighing scale, stadiometer to measure height, infantometer to measure height of infants, printing of growth monitoring chart, organising health camps, providing for diet as per medical advice to improve nutrition status of malnourished children etc.
The donors may also provide aid up to Rs 1.50 lakh towards enhancement of facilities under ‘Model Anganwadi Scheme’, or up to Rs 50,000/- for minor repairs and such works.
For implementation of the policy of adoption, the department will soon set up State and district level Anganwadi Adoption Cells. Though further details regarding registration of the donors etc are still awaited, details regarding the policy have been conveyed to the Divisional Commissioners, Municipal Commissioners, District Collectors, and Chief Executive Officers of Zilla Parishads, and other officers concerned across the State.
The anganwadis were set up in Maharashtra as part of expansion of Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS). At present, there are 104 urban and 449 rural/tribal (total 553) ICDS projects in the State. Under these projects, total 97,475 anganwadi centres and 13,011 mini-anganwadis (total 1,10,486 anganwadis) are functioning across Maharashtra. Under the ICDS, beneficiaries enrolled with anganwadis get supplementary nutritional diet, vaccination/immunisation, health check-up, referral service, informal pre-school education, health and diet education. The anganwadis are looked after by Anganwadi Sevika and Assistant, Mukhya Sevika at beat-level, and Child Development Project Officer at project-level.