Rajasthan anganwadi centres added 8 lakh beneficiaries during pandemic

JAIPUR: Over seven lakh students have moved to anganwadi centres during the pandemic, mostly from families which migrated from other states and locals whose livelihoods have been severely hit due to the lockdown.
The official figure says that the number of beneficiaries under the anganwadis was 35 lakhs till March, which swelled to 43 lakhs by the end of November.
The figure includes one lakh pregnant women and lactating mothers. The movement is due to the free distribution of raw food grains being provided door-to-door by the state to its beneficiaries.
Commenting on the surge, Naziya Khan, a social worker, said that families who have suffered financial losses due to pandemic were left with no choice to register their children in order to get free food grains. “Most of these children were studying in some low-income schools and due to pandemic, they had quit schools to register in anganwadis. In some centres, the strength of children rose manifold,” said Khan.
Reports said at some places the registration was so high that anganwadi workers had to keep them on standby till they received extra food grains. The anganwadi centres in Rajkiya Balika Senior Secondary Schools are following rotation system by giving ration to 20 children every alternate month.
The state has 61,500 anganwadis spread across the districts with 1.5 lakh staff, including 62,000 anganwadi staff and rest Asha Sahayoginis.
The surge in numbers started soon after the arrival of migrants from across the country. Under the revised scheme, instead of cooked food, the state is providing food packets — 2kg pulses and 2.5kg wheat per child for a month.
Krishna Kant Pathak, secretary, women and child development, said that the department is ready to cater to the end number of children in the age group of 3-6 in anganwadis. “Majority of the entrants had left their low-income level school and joined anganwadis. Our workers are taking care of the food and other health indicators,” said Pathak.