Gandhinagar : Free Uniforms to 14 lakhs Anganwadi students will be distributed by the state government. Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani kick-started a state wide initiative of distributing free uniforms to 14 lakh Anganwadi students of age group 3-6 years in more than 53 thousand Anganwadi’s of the state through video conferencing from Gandhinagar. In a unique and sensitive child welfare initiative, he distributed uniforms to 5 students. In this context, CM said that when the children from well-to-do class go to the nursery-playgroup, they get a prominent image through uniform.The state government has started this scheme with the feeling that the children of Anganwadi’s get distinctive identity. The Women and Child Welfare Department of the state has expended Rs. 36.28 crore for this purpose and has distributed this uniform free of cost to 14 lakh students. GoG will distribute 28 lakh pairs of uniforms free of cost to 14 lakh Anganwadi students. Officials, including ministers, MLAs, MPs, mayors and district panchayat presidents, Anganwadi students participated through video conference links from various places of the state. CM Rupani said that, the then Chief Minister Narendra Modi had made lots of efforts and paid much attention to Anganwadi and malnutrition. He also named more than 53 thousand Anganwadi’s as “Nandgher” to educated children’s with primary education. CM Rupani said that we are moving in the direction of becoming ‘Nutritious Gujarat, Malnutrition Free Gujarat’ with the objective of providing nutritious food to children, teenagers and pregnant women’s. GoG is committed to build a healthy society in the coming time and is working towards making the child our asset by shaping them physically as well mentally.
Chief Minister said that according to the new education policy, to strengthen pre-primary education, a ‘Pa Pa Pagli’ scheme has been planned for the holistic development of more than 16 lakh children coming for study in Anganwadi, for which the government has also provided Rs 5 crore in this year’s budget. He said that daughter is now equivalent to son. state government has started the Vahli Dikari Yojana with the objective of increasing the birth rate of daughters. Under this scheme a daughter is given assistance Rs. 4,000 for admission in first standard, Rs. 6,000 for admission in ninth standard and at the age of 18, one lakh rupees is given for higher education and marriage. The digital calendar of pre-primary education activities is a new initiative of ICDS, Department of Women and Child Development. Chief Minister congratulated the department for the initiative in which children and parents can see and hear the story, audio and video clippings and photographs along with the activities. CM also congratulated the department for distributing stadio-meter, info-meters and weighing scales for health check-up of children coming to Anganwadi. CM Rupani said that during the transition period of Corona last year, we conducted a program of Hand Wash Campaign in more than 5000 Anganwadi’s. It is a matter of pride for all of us that the certificate of the world record set by more than five lakh ladies following Corona’s guideline has been received from London Institute today. Minister for Women and Child Development Ganpatsinh Vasava said that when PM Modi was the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Women and Child Welfare Department was started for the first time in the year 2011.Only Rs. 450 crores were allocated for this department by previous government, while today it is being implemented with an allocation of more than Rs. 3,500 crore. Apart from increasing the salaries of the Anganwadi-Tedagar workers of the state, saris have also been provided at a cost of Rs 8 crore for the purpose of enhancing the prestige of the Anganwadi worker in the village and creating their distinctive identity, said Vasava. On this occasion, the Minister of State for Women and Child Development, Vibhavari Dave said that Uniforms are being provided in the Anganwadi’s of the entire state for the purpose of maintaining uniformity, equality and identity.
