SHILLONG, March 28: The state government has envisaged an ambitious proposal to upgrade and renovate as many as 2,000 Anganwadi centres across the state in convergence with the Rs 40 million Asian Development Bank-funded Early Childhood Development (ECD) programme.
Replying to a query from Nongstoin MLA Mayralborn Syiem during Question Hour, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma said that the projected estimate for the exercise is Rs 60 crore.
“We will know the exact total cost once we prepare the final estimates for all the 2,000 anganwadi centres,” the CM said.
He revealed that the state government has conducted inspection of around 3,641 anganwadi buildings out of the total of 5,630.
Sangma also mentioned that 44 villages under Nongpoh assembly constituency do not have anganwadi centres.
“We have already submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Women and Child Development for setting up of anganwadi centres in 25 out of the 44 villages but we are yet to get the sanction,” he said.
The state government has submitted another proposal for setting up of 266 new anganwadi centres and 547 mini anganwadi centres in villages left uncovered till date.
“About 830 now anganwadi centres are being proposed. We are not sure when this will be approved but we are continuously following up with the Centre,” he said.
Replying to a supplementary question, the CM said that the services provided by the anganwadi centres include immunization, earlier child care and education, referral services, nutrition education and convergence programmes.
“But now we have laid emphasis on physical and mental growth health during the early age of childhood through the ECD programme. We are pursuing the same in an aggressive manner,” he said.
The CM further said that the state government has increased its contribution towards the honorarium of the anganwadi centres by Rs 1,500.
“Previously, the contribution from the Centre to the monthly honorarium to each anganwadi centre was Rs 4,500 while Rs 1,500 was contributed by the state government. Now we have added another Rs 1,500 which means that the total monthly honorarium for the main anganwadi centres has increased to Rs 7,500 each,” he said.
