Bhopal: Woman and Child Development Minister Archana Chitnis has said that to make Madhya Pradesh malnutrition-free, Anganwadi services will be strengthened and improved further and extended to the needy. Chitnis was addressing a state-level departmental review meeting at Academy of Administration here on Thursday. The Minister said that we can set up ideal Aganwadi only through ideal attendance. She directed to enlist children and ensure their attendance under Anganwadi Chalo Abhiyan. Chitnis directed striking gong will be mandatory at the time of opening and closing of Anganwadis. After closure of anganwadis, workers and assistants should visit houses of the malnourished children who are unable to come to anganwadis.

The meeting decided to impart training to anganwadis workers and assistants. Their separate and joint workshops will be held every three months. Chitnis directed to simplify reporting forms of anganwadis workers and assistants incorporating all points in them. Besides, poor and needy women should be employed as to anganwadis workers and assistants.

Chitnis said that wherever necessary, ‘Anchal Kaksh’ (Breastfeeding centres) should be set up at selected places in busy markets, bus stands, railway stations, courts premises and collectorates. She said that uniform ‘Anchal Kaksh’ should be set up in entire state. On the signboard of centres, word ‘Anchal Kaksh’ would be written in bold letters on pink background so that it is visible from distance. Attractive photographs and posters based on women and child development welfare schemes should be installed inside the room.

Reviewing Udita Project, Chitnis said that anganwadis workers and assistants should publicise it door-to-door in villages and motivate girls and women to use sanitary napkins at low cost. She said that women and girls should be counselled to throw away used sanitary napkins wrapping them in paper instead of plastic so that no harm is caused to environment. For this, they should be disposed of in tandem with pachayats and Janpad Panchayats under Swachchhata Abhiyan.

Minister Chitnis said that it is necessary to adopt traditional methods to eradicate malnutrition. Such methods should be identified to eradicate malnutrition and find its causes. She said that under ‘Panchwati Se Poshan Abhiyan’, saplings of surjane, kabeet, bel, jamun, karonda, aonla, katahal will be planted. Seeds of surjane will be provided to the identified families of malnourished children. Minister of State for Women and Child Development Lalita Yadav, Principal Secretary JN Kansotiya and Commissioner ICDS Pushplata Singh were also present on the occasion.