Friday, 26 January 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN
In light of the prevailing cold temperatures the Women Empowerment and Child Development (WECD) department has instructed Anganwadi centres to modify their food menu. Director of the WECD Prashant Arya informed that during the summer season, those in the mountainous regions face difficulties in accessing food grains, which hampers the provision of meals to children at the Anganwadi centres.
Typically, during the summer season, workers at these centres procure wheat and rice for the menu as these items are readily available and cost-effective, he said. He further informed that there are about 20,062 Anganwadi centres established in the State, employing around 35,000 workers who cater to an average of two lakh children.
Considering the cold conditions, the WECD department has directed the Anganwadi workers to make slight changes to the menu which should be calorie-based. During the winter season, items like roasted gram, jaggery, peanuts and flattened rice (Poha) along with coarse grain items like Jhangora Kheer and Mandua should be included in the centres’ menu as has been done every year during this season. The addition of coarse grains is mainly due to their availability in the mountainous regions, he added.
Arya further emphasised that the WECD ensures proper monitoring of the food cooked for children in Anganwadi centres. Every month, the district programme officers of each district are asked to submit a report to the WECD department on the meals provided at the Anganwadi centres in their respective districts.
