The Union women and child development ministry plans to map and assess anganwadis and swadhar grehs (shelters for distressed women). This is to address any functional problems through focused interventions, officials familiar to the matter said.
As per the reports in HT, the proposed move comes after the fifth National Family Health Survey (NFHS) showed an alarming rise in the number of children with stunted growth across 11 states. Meghalaya recorded the steepest rise with 46.5 percent followed by Bihar, which stood at 42.9 percent. The population of underweight children has also increased.
Though the government is yet to decide which body will conduct the survey, the officials said that organizations affiliated to the UN were earlier considered. However, this idea was later dropped.
“The assessment was approved last November. It will help us identify the problem areas and to resolve them,” an official said on the condition of anonymity. The official further added that the assessment of the anganwadis could lead to the restructuring of the funding system to focus on the vulnerable areas. The official further added, “we can also identify which states and centres need more help”.
