Salter & Adult scales distributed to 907 Anganwadi Centers in Hyderabad

01 November, 2012

Chiranjiv Chowdary, Commissioner, Women Development & Child Welfare, government of Andhra Pradesh, distributed salter and adult weighing scales to 907 Anganwadi Centers of Hyderabad district at a programme organised at the conference hall in Directorate of Women Development & Child Welfare.

THESE SCALES were provided by Association for Promoting Social Action (APSA) and Plan India. Speaking on this occasion, he recalled that Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh expressed concern stating about 47 per cent children in the country are malnourished. Stating that malnourishment is the major concern for the government, he said to meet this challenge weighing scales are needed to monitor the growth of children.

He advised that every month Anganwadi Workers should monitor the growth of children aged between 6 months to 3 years, 3 to 5 years, adolescent youth and pregnant women using these weighing machines. Appreciating the initiative of APSA and Plan by providing these weighing scales, he said most of Angandawi Centers are not having such scales and at some places scales are not usable conditions.

Chowdary asked the Anganwadi Workers to visit houses of malnourished children and conduct counselling to their family members explaining them on the importance of ensuring nutrition food for them. He stressed the need for united efforts of the government, community, civil society groups and NGOs to meet the challenge of malnourishment. “We no longer can work in isolation to gain desired results”, he added.

The Commissioner assured that their department will make use of these weighing scales to maximum extent so that to improve conditions in the slums with regard to malnourishment. He also mentioned that earlier too APSA and Plan provided teaching, learning and kitchen materials to 30 Anganwadi Centers in the city.

Hyderabad District Additional Joint Collector Mrs Rekha Rani presiding over the programme said that Anganwadi workers plays crucial role in the welfare and development of poorer sections. “You are main vehicles to reach various government programmes to the people,” she observed. However, she expressed concern over recent trends that some Anganwadi workers are resigning. She asked the Anganwadi supervisors to go to such workers, find out reasons and ensure to prevent such trends hereafter. She said she would personally interact with all supervisors in the district very soon to discuss these issues in person.

APSA Director S Srinvias Reddy expressed hope to work together for making Anganwadi centers in Hyderabad district as model and child-friendly centers. Plan India AP Manager Mrs Shailaja Vincen said that tackling malnourishment problem will help to improve children performance in schools.

Plan India Programme Coordinator Mrs. Thumaty Shanthi, Women Development & Child Welfare Joint Director Mrs Sarala Rajya Lakshmi, Regional Director Mrs Jyothy and Project Director Mrs Lakshmi also spoke.