Now, tiny-tots registered with Anganwadi centres in Uttar Pradesh will be served fresh and steaming food as Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has taken this initiative to ensure nutrition and better health of the kids.
The CM has directed the Child Development and Nutrition Department to serve kids (aged between 3 and 6 years) fresh and hot food at all the Anganwadi centres across the state. “Kids will be served milk powder, curd and ghee under the scheme in Anganwadi centres along with the usual rice, wheat flour and pulses served in the mid-day meal scheme,” an official said.
The UP government has also ordered reopening of Anganwadi centres with strict adherence to the Covid protocols. There are 1.89 lakh Anganwadi centres in the 75 districts of the state. Besides educating kids, the centres also cater to the needs of teenage girls, pregnant women and mothers. Each Anganwadi centre has, on an average, 20 to 25 registered students. The scheme aims at ensuring proper nutrition for kids in the state.
According to the departmental officials, the scheme will run on the pattern of mid-day meal scheme with similar menu while the state government will supply all the necessary items to the Child Development and Nutrition Department every four months. At village level, funds for the expenses to be incurred under the scheme will be transferred to the joint account of the head of the self-help group and the Anganwadi workers. The food will be prepared by the same cook that prepares food for the mid-day meal.
The state government will grant Rs 4.50 per beneficiary child daily under the scheme as ‘conversion money’, of which Rs 1.50 will go to the cook.