Anganwadis To Reopen In Odisha, Bring Rural Kids Back To School

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Government has decided to reopen anganwadi centres across the state soon and the directions in this regard have been issued to district heads.

Women and Child Development Department has asked the district collectors to submit a preparedness report by February 16. The collectors have also been directed to verify the building and other equipment of anganwadi centres by responsible officers.

Odisha on Jan 5 announced to shut the

Schools and colleges in Odisha were shut from January 5 following the resurgence of COVID-19. Anganwadi centres were the in Odisha will reopen soon as the State Government has initiated preparations in this regard.

State Women & Child Development Department has asked district Collectors to get building and other equipment of Anganwadi centres (AWCs) verified by responsible officers & furnishes preparedness report by February 16.

In a letter to district Collectors, Additional Secretary to Odisha government Nityananda Barik said the state is planning to open the AWCs ‘considering that COVID is on the wane now’.

“However, since these centres were not operational for the last two years, the condition of the buildings and other equipment in these centres needs to be verified by responsible officers for reopening,” said Barik.

AWCs provides basic health care and it is a part of the Indian public healthcare system. Pre-school children in 3 -6 years age group attend AWCs for nutrition and Early Childhood Care & Education (ECCE).

Later, in January 2021, the State government had allowed the reopening of Anganwadi centres with gatherings of up to 500 people while strictly adhering to the COVID-19 guidelines.