Anganwadi centres to get space at Zilla Parishad schools in Maharashtra
The initiative, which had been under discussion for some time, is expected to ease the burden on thousands of Anganwadi centres currently functioning from rented premises. These facilities play a key role in delivering services like immunisation, health check-ups, antenatal care and early childhood education.
Mumbai, Jul 13 (PTI) Anganwadi centres, rural childcare centres for kids under the age of six, will now be allowed to operate from unused classrooms in nearby Zilla Parishad (ZP) schools in Maharashtra, officials have said.
'To address these issues, it had been proposed to relocate these centres to nearby ZP-run schools, provided the distance between the two is within 1 kilometre,' he said.
The Anganwadi programme in Maharashtra is implemented by the Women and Child Development Department under the Union government's Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme.
As per government data, the state has 1,10,048 Anganwadis, of which around 21,000 operate from rented premises, while 10,000 are located in community halls or public libraries.
An official from the Women and Child Development Department said the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 had also recommended integrating Anganwadis with schools to improve early learning outcomes.
'In line with this, the state has advised ZP schools to share unused classrooms with Anganwadis,' the official said.
ZP schools have been asked to allow Anganwadi staff and children access to kitchens, washrooms, school grounds, drinking water and sports equipment, the official said.
'Where the school building has multiple floors, Anganwadis should be given classrooms on the ground floor. The Women and Child Development Department will provide funds for repairs, painting and setting up essential infrastructure, if necessary,' the official added. PTI ND NR
This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
an hour ago
- Mint
In a first, state-run bus service starts in Naxal-hit Maharashtra village
Gadchiroli, Jul 17 (PTI) A remote village in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli district, which was once a Naxal hotbed, has now become accessible with the starting of the state-run bus service in the area for the first time since independence, police said. As the first bus rolled into the Markanar village on Wednesday, bringing it on the state road transport network, locals welcomed it and cheered by waving the national flag. The service will benefit nearly 1,200 residents, including students, from Marknar and nearby villages, a police release said. The bus service from the remote Markanar village to Aheri has been started for the first time since independence following efforts by the Gadchiroli police, it claimed. Gadchiroli district, known for its tribal population and Naxal affected areas, has long struggled with poor connectivity. The Markanar village is located at the foothills of Abujhmad, which was a Naxal stronghold, in Bhamragad subdivision of Gadchiroli district. Villagers for the first time witnessed the bus service in their area on Wednesday. They gathered to welcome the state transport service, brainchild of Gadchiroli Superintendent of Police Neelotpal, by waving the tricolour, the release said. The service will benefit more than 1,200 residents, particularly patients, students and other daily commuters, from villages like Markanar, Murumbhushi, Phulnar, Koparshi, Poyarkothi and Gundurwahi, it said. The Gadchiroli police have undertaken several infrastructure projects to ease transportation in remote regions. On January 1, 2025, bus services were launched on Gatta-Gardewada-Wangeturi route, and from Katezhar to Gadchiroli on April 27, the release said. In the last five years, 20 roads of 420.95 kilometres and 60 bridges were constructed in the district and completed under the protection of the Gadchiroli police, it added.
Mint
2 hours ago
- Mint
‘All space for animals, no space for humans': Supreme Court asks petitioner to feed stray dogs ‘in your home'
During a hearing on Tuesday, the Supreme Court responded to a plea about alleged harassment for feeding community dogs in Noida by asking the petitioner, 'Why don't you feed them at your own home?' As reported by PTI, a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta told the petitioner's counsel, 'We should leave every lane, every road open for these large-hearted people? There is all the space for these animals, no space for humans. Why don't you feed them in your own house? Nobody is stopping you.' The plea related to a March 2025 order of the Allahabad High Court. The petitioner, the counsel said, was subjected to harassment and was unable to feed community dogs in line with the Animal Birth Control Rules. Rule 20 of the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 deals with the feeding of community animals and puts onus on the resident welfare association or apartment owner association or local body's representative of the local area to make necessary arrangements for the feeding of community animals residing in the premises or that area. The top court, however, said, 'We give you a suggestion to open a shelter in your own house. Feed every dog in the community in your own house.' The petitioner's lawyer argued that they were following the regulations and noted that while the municipality was setting up designated feeding areas in Greater Noida, no such arrangements had been made in Noida. He suggested that feeding points could be established in locations that are not commonly used by the public. 'You go on cycling in the morning?' the bench asked, 'try doing it and see what happens'. When the counsel said he goes on morning walks and sees several dogs, the bench said, 'Morning walkers are also at risk. Cycle riders and two-wheelers are at greater risk.' The bench then tagged the plea with a separate pending plea on a similar issue. In the high court, the petitioner sought directions to the authorities to implement provisions of the rules with due care and caution keeping in view the provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. 'While protection of street dogs would be warranted in accordance with the provisions of the applicable statute, at the same time, the authorities will have to bear in mind the concern of common man, such that their movement on streets are not hampered by attacks by these street dogs,' the high court said. The high court, therefore, expected the state authorities to exhibit "due sensitivity" to the concerns of the petitioner and the common man on the streets. The High Court stated that its observations were important due to the recent rise in street dog attacks, which have caused fatalities and serious inconvenience to pedestrians. There is all the space for these animals, no space for humans. We give you a suggestion to open a shelter in your own house. Feed every dog in the community in your own house. The court dismissed the plea while directing auSRthorities to address the concerns it raised. It emphasised the need to protect stray animals while also ensuring that public safety and the interests of pedestrians are not compromised.
The Print
12 hours ago
- The Print
Odisha CM's defunct helicopter starts journey to Mumbai on road
Engineers could not rectify the problems in the aircraft which was stranded on the Kendrapara college playground since then, Additional District Magistrate Rabindra Kumar Mallick said. Majhi reached Kendrapara in this chopper on June 9, but the aircraft developed technical snags due to lightning strikes. Kendrapara (Odisha), Jul 16 (PTI) After being stuck in Kendrapara district for more than a month, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi's defunct helicopter on Wednesday began a journey to Mumbai on road for repair, officials said. A team of aviation engineers removed the blades of the helicopter and later, with the help of an earthmover, lifted it on a trailer truck for its journey to Mumbai on road. 'The helicopter was manufactured by Germany's Airbus company. Following safety protocols, we are shifting it on the road. After reaching Mumbai, the helicopter will be repaired,' said Kartik Chandra Dutta, the operations manager of Mumbai-based Heligo Charters Private Limited (HCPL). The company is a service provider in India that utilises Airbus helicopters. 'It would take 10 days for us to take the helicopter to Mumbai from Kendrapara on the road, covering around 800 kilometres,' said an aviation engineer, who came from Mumbai to take the chopper there. PTI COR AAM NN This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
