Punjab decides to welcome children back in Anganwari Centres

Aruna Chaudhary instructs to follow SOP and other health protocols

Chandigarh, January 30:

Punjab Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister  Aruna Chaudhary, on Saturday, informed that the department has decided to reopen all the Anganwari Centres for children and other beneficiaries across the State from February 1, 2021, which were closed due to COVID pandemic, keeping in view the unlock guidelines issued by the state government.

 Chaudhary informed that Anganwari Centres have been opened from December 8, 2020 for workers and helpers but the decision with regard to children to attend the Anganwari centres was not taken. Now the department has decided to reopen all the Anganwari Centres from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM as the School Education Department has already announced to reopen pre primary schools from February 1.

The Minister said that hot cooked meals will be served to the beneficiaries in Anganwari Centres now onwards. In case of the absence of any child, dry ration would be supplied to the child home as per the previously followed practice. She stated that although the Anganwari Centres have been opened since December 8, dry ration was already being supplied door to door to all the beneficiaries by anganwari workers and helpers since March 2020.

The Cabinet Minister has directed the concerned authorities to ensure the strict compliance of health protocols and Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) in letter and spirit in all Anganwari Centres. She said, the education department has prepared SOP for the pre-primary schools, which would be followed in anganwari centres.

She said that instructions have been given to District Administrations, District Programme Officers (DPOs) and Child Development and Protection Officers (CDPOs) to accommodate the workers and helpers in this regard. If any issue arises, the concerned officer has been asked to take up the issue with the Deputy Commissioner.

It is pertinent to mention that the Supreme Court of India has asked the states and union territories to take decision regarding reopening of the centres situated outside containment zones on or before January 31.