Role of Anganbari Centres important in preparing excellent human resources: Chief Minister

                                 

Jaipur, February 8 Chief Minister Mr Ashok Gehlot said that children are the future of our country, which we can prepare as an excellent human resources by giving them better nutrition, good education and values. Anganbari Centres of the State can play an important role in this direction. “Our goal should be that all Anganbari Centres of the State are developed as Nand Ghar with all the basic facilities,” he said. 

 Mr Gehlot was addressing the MoU signing programme with Anil Agarwal Foundation of Vendanta Group to develop 25,000 Anganbari Centres as Nand Ghar in the State on Tuesday. Women and Child Development Principal Secretary Smt Shreya Guha on behalf of the State Government and Nand Ghar Chief Executive Officer Ritu Jhingan on behalf of Anil Agarwal Foundation signed the MoU. The Foundation by spending Rs 750 crore (Rs 3 lakh per anganbari) will develop 25,000 Nand Ghars.

 The Chief Minister said developing Anganbari Centres as Nand Ghar through Anil Agarwal Foundation is a big step. This will improve the infrastructure of these centres along with providing quality education, nutrition and health services. This will further help in reducing the maternal and infant mortality rate. He said that the State Government is constantly strengthening the mother and child health services in the State, as the result now around 95% of deliveries are taking place in institutions.

 Mr Gehlot said that giving top priority to the health of women and adolescent girls, the State Government has started Udaan Scheme for the distribution of free sanitary napkins. The scheme was started at a cost of around Rs 200 crore through which women and adolescent girls are being provided free sanitary napkins up to villages and hamlets. It is an effort through this scheme to make mothers and sisters aware of hygiene so that they prevent themselves from diseases.

 Women and Child Development Minister Smt Mamta Bhupesh said that anganbari centres have an important role in regard to nutrition and health services to pregnant women, mothers and children. She said that it is a commendable effort to develop these centres as Nand Ghar through Anil Agarwal Foundation and this will help in developing basic facilities in anganbari centres of the State.

 Chief Secretary Smt Usha Sharma said that Rajasthan will emerge as a pioneer State in the field of mother and child health services. She said that the development of Nand Ghar would improve the life of one generation but many generations.

 Women and Child Development Department Principal Secretary Smt Shreya Guha in her welcome speech said that around 62,000 anganbari centres are functioning in the State in which around six types of services are being provided. Till now, more than 1300 anganbari centres in 13 districts have been developed as Nand Ghar.

Vedanta Group Chairman Mr Anil Agarwal said that developing anganbari centre as Nand Ghar is an effort in which children will get good health, education and values. He said effort would be made to develop 25,000 anganbari centres as Nand Ghar soon through technology. He said Rajasthan is a land of entrepreneurs. Rajasthan is continuously progressing in every field with the farsighted vision of Chief Minister Shri Ashok Gehlot.

 Vedanta Group non-executive director Priya Agarwal said that Nand Ghar is being developed under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) with the aim of improving mother and child nutrition. No child should sleep hungry and pregnant and women who have recently delivered babies get better nutrition and health services, she added.

 

ICDS Commissioner Smt Urmila Rajoria gave the vote of thanks. Women Empowerment Commissioner Smt Rashmi Gupta, Anil Agarwal Foundation CEO Shri Bhaskar Chatterjee, Women and Child Development Department senior officers and Vedanta Group representatives were present on this occasion.