NASHIK :
In a novel gesture, the Anganwadi centres in the city have started delivering free mid-day meals to its children at their homes after a complete shutdown of Anganwadi centres until further notification. The government has decided to provide meals at homes to ensure that the children get nutritious foods.
As many as 124 Anganwadi women workers and their co-workers from 357 Anganwadi centres are making home delivery of nutritious supplies to around 12000 children within the municipal limits, excluding containment zones.
As a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of coronavirus, a team from the medical department together with the Anganwadi workers and co-workers are also simultaneously conducting door to door survey to check viral diseases. They are strictly complying with the suggestions made by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and hence using protective equipment like PPE kits.
As the Anganwadi workers are working risking their lives, an insurance cover of Rs 25 lakh has been provided to them by the medical department.
As per the instructions of the government all the anganwadis, wherein close to 12000 children are studying, under the municipal limits have been shut during this lockdown. Therefore, as per the government directive, it has been decided to deliver nutritious food to the Anganwadi children which included ration, groundnut, jaggery, raw sprouts, fruits like banana. All the Anganwadi workers and co-workers have been instructed to distribute nutritious food at homes with the utmost care. Areas under the containment zones have been excluded from home delivery of food to children.
Under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) programme, Anganwadi centres serve nutritious meals to children up to the age of 6 years and to expectant and nursing mothers. But anganwadis now closed, and the delivery of these meals has completely halted in some pockets, while elsewhere beneficiaries are beginning to receive grocery supplies instead of hot cooked meals (HCM).
Altogether 124 Anganwadi women workers and their co-workers from 357 centres are making home delivery of nutritious supplies which included ration, groundnut, jaggery, raw sprouts and fruits like banana, to around 12000 children within the municipal limits, excluding containment zones. These workers have been provided an insurance cover of Rs 25 lakh.