Minister of State for Women and Child Development praised the Anganwadi initiatives

• Minister of State for Women and Child Development Manisha Vakil says the dropping prevalence of breastfeeding is a cause for worry, and the Anganwadi sisters have helped raise awareness.

Minister of State for Women and Child Development Manisha Vakil emphasized the necessity of breastfeeding a newborn in the first hour after delivery and requested the Anganwadi sisters to assist her in spreading the word. 

Even after a cesarean birth, a mother can breastfeed her infant for the first hour. Breastfeeding is fraught with myths, and the dropping percentage is cause for alarm.

Vakil praised Anganwadi workers for going door to door during the pandemic scare and delivering take-home rations for supplementary nutrition to pregnant women, children, and adolescents. She said the food gets prepared by Amul, Sumul, and Banas Dairy and that consultations are taking place to make it more nutritious. 

Other states throughout the country have expressed strong interest in Gujarat’s model for malnutrition reduction. The Minister also saw the healthy dish demonstration and the Department of Women and Child Development’s work and praised the blood donors.

Five women support applications developed by the department including ICDS Toll-Free Number and mobile platform got launched in the presence of Mayor Keyur Rokadia, MLAs Yogeshbhai Patel, Shailesh Mehta, Seema Mohile, District Panchayat Chairman Ashokbhai Patel, Collector R.B.Barad, and other office-bearers.

Nutrition kits, Vhali Dikari Yojana approval orders, Ganga Swarupa Remarriage Yojana cash help, and Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana cards got distributed to the beneficiaries. 

In addition, the e-inauguration of the AYUSH Health and Wellness Facility in Khakhariya and Mewli in Savli taluka of Vadodara district. The new Dabka sub-health center in Padra taluka saw the construction of Anganwadi houses completed online.

Minister stated that the Anganwadi sisters will get trained to prepare more delectable and digestible dishes. To make the recruitment process more open, the Anganwadi recruitment procedure will now be done digitally. The 181 Women Security Helpline project in Gujarat, was also brought up.

K.K. Nirala, Secretary and Commissioner, Department of Women and Child Development, said the mobile app and portal were created, in response to the Women and Child Development Minister’s directive to digitize as many of the department’s services as feasible. An online procedure will also get used for hiring Anganwadi staff and helpers in the future. The commission has taken note of the department’s digital initiatives policy.

The Minister digitally inaugurated 6 Nand Ghar constructed in the city district and a ground-breaking ceremony for 15 Nand Ghar.

Written by:

Shristi Chatterjee