Union WCD Minister launches ‘Anganwadi Protocol for Divyang Children’ at National Outreach Program in New Delhi

The Anganwadi Protocol for Divyang Children was launched by the Union Minister for Women and Child Development and Minority Affairs, Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani, in the presence of Dr. Munjpara Mahendrabhai, MoS MWCD and AYUSH, Shri Indevar Pandey, Secretary, MoWCD, Shri Rajesh Aggarwal, Secretary, DEPwD, and Dr. K K Tripathy, Economic Advisor, MoHFW at a national outreach programme organized on 28th November, 2023 at Vigyan Bhawan. The event was organised to realize the commitment for strengthening Divyang children’s overall access to improved well-being.

The event was attended by senior officers from MoWCD, MoHFW, DEPwD, State WCD Officers, CDPOs, Lady Supervisors, Anganwadi Workers and ASHA workers from across the country and experts from key organizations such as NIMHANS.

In her keynote address, Union Minister Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani thanked the DEPwD and MoHFW for aligning support to MWCD’s initiative. The Minister said that currently 4.37 crore children from age 3 to 6 years are being supported with hot-cooked meals and ECCE every day, 4.5 crore children of age group 0 to 3 years with take-home rations and home visits, and more than 8 crore children from 0-6 years age group are supported with growth monitoring and referrals to the health system to enhance early childhood development. The Minister shared that 16 crore home visits have been undertaken for children in the last 4 months by Anganwadi workers.