The Uttarakhand Government on Monday launched a scheme to provide mid-day meal to women in the State aged above 60 through Anganwadis. The ‘Mukhyamantri Vriddha Mahila Poshan Yojana’ was launched by Chief Minister Harish Rawat at the Anganwadi centre in Chharba, Sahaspur on Monday. The CM also unveiled the foundation for four Adarsh Anganwadi centres on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion Rawat said that providing nutritious food to elderly women is among the priorities of the State Government. More Anganwadi centres will be opened in the State and the posts of supervisers will also be increased while the centres will be developed into multi-purpose centres.
The State is making all possible attempts to improve the condition of rural areas by also working to prevent death of women due to lack of nutrition or medical treatment. “Apart from providing nutritious food to elderly women, the State Government will also open special wards for women in Dehradun and Haldwani to ensure immediate treatment of women in serious condition. The State is also going to improve the dai (midwife) system in the rural areas for which a contract will be signed with Max Hospital for better training of midwives.
The midday meal scheme for aged women has been started symbolically today and will be implemented across the State from January 2015,” said Rawat.
He exhorted local public representatives to also come forward for developmental works in rural areas. Calling for expansion of sports facilities in rural areas, the CM said that the government would provide assistance where required. The State Government will also start a skill training scheme in 2015 to provide vocational training to youth.
The CM also announced naming of the lakshmipur intersection on former Union minister Brahmadutt, a State level silk training centre would be named after Brahmadutt, two overhead tanks would be constructed at Chharba Gram Panchayat, mini potable water tubewells will be constructed at Chharba village, Tauli, Badawala and Rajawala, construction of a bridge across the Shitala river on the Chharba-lakshmipur Road, a new 10 MVA power sub-station at Vikasnagar, establishment of an ITI at Pasauli village, increasing transformer capacity in Rasulpur Gram Sabha, Jeevangarh, Dakpatthar, Nawabgarh, Bhimawala, Babugarh Prithvipur and Badamwala, an inter-collge in Mendipur village, construction of a road divider from Herbertpur Chowk to Mandi Chowk, Vikasnagar and a Pashu Seva Kendra at Jakhan in Madarsu Gram Panchayat among other developmental works in the area. Vikasnagar MlA Navprabhat informed the CM about problems being faced in the constituency.
MlA and Uttarakhand Slum Development Committee chairman Rajkumar, principal secretary, Women Empowerment and Child Development, Radha Raturi, secretary in-charge Nidhimani Tripathi and others were also present on the occasion.