West Bengal Announces Free Electricity, Permanent Buildings For ICDS Centres
Measures aim to upgrade anganwadi facilities across West Bengal.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced measures for Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) workers and centres at the ‘Angan Milan Sewa’ programme in Panihati, North 24 Parganas, on Monday. The event was attended by BJP national president Nitin Nabin. The state government said it plans to upgrade Anganwadi centres and provide free electricity to ICDS centres.
Adhikari said a decision to increase the wages of Anganwadi workers had already been taken by the state Cabinet. He also said the government had allocated funds to improve the infrastructure of ICDS centres, including those currently functioning from rented premises. According to the information provided at the event, around 19,000 Anganwadi centres are currently operating from rented locations.
The chief minister said these centres would gradually be shifted to premises owned by the state government. He also announced that electricity would be provided free of cost to ICDS centres across West Bengal. In addition, he said the state government would increase the budgetary allocation for ICDS workers and centres in the next state budget.
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Adhikari also said the salaries of Anganwadi staff had been increased by Rs 5,000 per month in August. He added that ICDS workers had been included under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, under which treatment of up to Rs 5 lakh would be available at 38 government and private hospitals in the country, according to his remarks at the programme.
Nitin Nabin praised the contribution of ICDS workers, describing them as among the first teachers of children. He said their work was important because of their role in the early development of children. The BJP national president also expressed support for the Anganwadi workers and praised Adhikari's leadership of the state government.
ICDS centres form an important part of India's system for providing nutrition, preschool education and related services to young children and mothers. The announcements in West Bengal focus on improving the infrastructure and financial support available to the centres and their workers. The proposed shift from rented facilities to government-owned premises is also aimed at providing permanent infrastructure for the centres.
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