Guwahati: Union minister for women and child development Annapurna Devi on Sunday praised the Assam govt's proactive stance against child marriages in the state while attending a "Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi" programme organised by the women and child development department of Assam in Guwahati.
The minister said, "Among all the initiatives taken by the Assam govt to ensure the safety of women and children, proactive action against child marriage deserves special mention. The govt has been working relentlessly and swiftly to realise the dream of a child marriage-free India. The govt's commitment to this goal has strengthened the belief that we will soon reach this milestone."
Addressing the event, the minister highlighted the ministry's commitment to early childhood development through the "Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi" programme, which focuses on quality education for children aged 3-6 years. She said 21,772 master trainers from 35 states and 42,308 anganwadi workers from 20 states, including 1,600 master trainers from Assam, have been trained under this initiative. She distributed certificates to the state-level master trainers during the programme on Sunday.
The minister added, "Under the 2024-25 budget, anganwadi workers and assistants have been included in the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, providing an annual health cover of Rs 5 lakh per family. Over 60,000 Anganwadi workers and helpers in Assam now have Ayushman cards, ensuring better healthcare access for them."
The minister informed that through the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), nearly 10 crore women, including 43 lakh from Assam, have achieved self-reliance. She also underlined the ministry's dedication to combating malnutrition through initiatives like Poshan Pakhwada and Poshan Maah, with Assam contributing to over 30 lakh campaign activities promoting healthy lifestyles for women and children.
She said 36 one-stop centres in Assam have supported around 21,000 women who have been subjected to gender-based violence.
During the event, Assam minister for women and child development Ajanta Neog said the govt has initiated the retirement of anganwadi workers and helpers at 60 years and made provisions for terminal benefits of Rs 4 lakh for anganwadi workers, Rs 3 lakh for mini anganwadi workers, and Rs 2 lakh for helpers. "To date, 3,723 workers and helpers have benefited under the program since 2023, and proposals for another 2,102 recipients have already been sanctioned," Neog added.