Uttar Pradesh: Door-to-door drive for child nutrition as anganwadis shut

Pankaj Shah | TNN | Updated: Apr 9, 2020, 10:05 IST

Image used for representational purpose.

LUCKNOW: A massive programme entailing door-to-door distribution of meals to children will be launched on April 10, 13 and 16, days after the coronavirus lockdown forced the state government to shut anganwadi centres, which were hitherto roped in by the child nutrition and development department to provide nutritious meals, essential to child immunity particularly in time of pandemic. The move received the nod of the chief minister late Tuesday.
In a communique sent to municipal commissioners and executive heads of other local bodies, principal secretary, urban development, Deepak Kumar, said corporators will be mobilised to inform beneficiaries. Corporators may use social media platforms, including whatsapp to inform beneficiaries on date and time of food distribution, he said. Distribution would be done by anganwadi workers, who would adhere to social distancing to prevent infection spread.
Anganwadi is a type of rural childcare centre started by the government in 1975 to combat child hunger and malnutrition.
On April 6, principal secretary, child health and nutrition, Veena Kumari, shot off a letter to the urban development department, raising concern over closure of anganwadi centres following the pandemic. She said the department has been asked to ensure that beneficiaries deprived of nutrition be identified and provided food through a door-to-door campaign during the lockdown period.
The district programme officer (DPO) would issue a roster on April 7, after which the campaign will take off. The DPO will also ensure that municipal commissioners and executive officers of nagar palika parishad and nagar panchayat be informed in advance. It's crucial that corporators be kept in the loop so that food is delivered to target beneficiaries timely, Kumari said.