Govt mulling permanent structures for Anganwadi centres

The reason for looking out for concrete and permanent structures was that most Anganwadis were finding difficulty in functioning from rented and temporary structures, Minister of State for Women and Child Development Krishna Tirath told reporters here today.

"I have requested MPs and MLAs to contribute some part of their MPLADs scheme towards building anganwadi centres in their respective constituencies," Tirath said. The government was also contemplating increasing the pay packets being paid to the anganwadi workers to better their performances and states and the central governments have decide cons tribute equally towards this, she said.

"I have spoken to the finance minister on this already." Apart from this, the government was also looking at mobile anganwadis to operate from difficult areas. Under the Integrated Child Protection Scheme, the ministry has adopted a model of tracking missing children through an integrated network of various states.

"The model was tried on a pilot basis in West Bengal and now 32 states have signed MoUs with the ministry to adopt it," she said. Earlier, addressing delegates of voluntary organisations after inaugurating the National Consultation for Evolving an Efficient Grant Management System towards Improving GO-NGO Cooperation in WCD Schemes, Tirath said that transparency in managing grant system was imperative.

In view of greater penetration of voluntary organisations in far-flung areas, and their demonstrated capabilities in implementation of Five Year plans, they were in better position to manage the issues at grass-root level, the Minister said.

She said, more the number of voluntary agencies, higher the pace of development. They are the eyes, ears and legs of the government, she added.