Rajesh directs quality nutrition, early childhood care, timely delivery of welfare schemes
Kathua : Deputy Commissioner Kathua Rajesh Sharma on Monday chaired a meeting to review performance of the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) sector in the district and assess progress under various flagship schemes.
Programme Officer ICDS Mohammed Syed Khan presented the district profile and an overview of the department’s functioning. The district has 1,641 Anganwadi Centres spread across 19 CD Blocks under eight ICDS Projects, providing nutrition, health and early childhood care services, the meeting was informed.
The meeting was informed that 40,328 beneficiaries are covered under the Supplementary Nutrition Programme (SNP), while 1,266 beneficiaries have been registered so far this financial year under the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), against a target of 5,200. Reviewing welfare schemes, the meeting was informed that 682 cases have been sanctioned under the Ladli Beti Yojana this financial year, 25 Anganwadi Centres have been upgraded with LED screens, Alexa-enabled learning facilities and other amenities, and six Anganwadi Centres have been equipped with crèche facilities for working mothers.
On Aadhaar enrolment, the meeting was informed that Aadhaar has been generated or updated for 7,781 children aged zero to five years, while 11,998 children above five years have also been covered.
The Deputy Commissioner reviewed nutrition-related interventions and discussed measures for identification, adoption and management of children with Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM) and Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM), stressing regular monitoring and timely intervention to improve children’s nutritional status. The meeting also discussed preparations for Poshan Pakhwada, awareness activities under the Nasha Mukt Jammu Kashmir Abhiyan and greater convergence among stakeholder departments for child welfare and nutrition programmes.
The Deputy Commissioner directed officers to ensure efficient delivery of services through Anganwadi Centres, achieve targets under flagship schemes in a time-bound manner and intensify awareness campaigns so eligible beneficiaries can avail the benefits of welfare initiatives.
Among those present were Programme Officer ICDS Mohammed Syed Khan, Chief Planning Officer Ranjeet Thakur and Child Development Project Officers (CDPOs).
