Union Minister of Women and Child Development, Smt. Annapurna Devi, visited Ranchi, Jharkhand, today to assess the progress of the Ministry’s various initiatives. During the meeting at the Project Building Conference Room, she expressed her gratitude to the Prime Minister for expanding the scope of the PM Ayushman Bharat Jan Arogya Yojana (PM AB-JAY), which now includes individuals over 70 years old. Additionally, Anganwadi workers and helpers have been brought under this scheme, significantly increasing insurance coverage across the nation.
The Minister emphasized the importance of upgrading Mini Anganwadi Centres into fully functioning Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) to enhance service delivery. She approved the transformation of 2,551 Mini AWCs into full-fledged centres in Jharkhand, a key step towards improving child development, health, and nutrition services under Mission Saksham Anganwadi. This upgrade aims to create modern, well-equipped centres, with 6,850 AWCs already approved for development in Jharkhand alone.
Highlighting the government’s focus on the tribal community, she discussed the Prime Minister’s commitment through the PM-JANMAN scheme. Funds have been allocated to 111 Anganwadi Centres in Jharkhand, particularly in areas with a vulnerable tribal population, to further support these regions’ development.
The Minister also took the opportunity to recognize the ongoing Poshan Maah celebrations, noting that over 3.8 crore activities have taken place across the country. In Jharkhand, the “Ek Ped Ma Ke Naam” initiative alone has generated more than 26 lakh activities, reflecting the state’s active participation in nationwide nutrition efforts.
Key officials, including Shri Manoj Kumar, Secretary of the Department of Women and Child Development in Jharkhand, and Shri Gyanesh Bharati, Additional Secretary at the Ministry of Women and Child Development, attended the meeting. The Minister urged officials to prioritize the implementation of the PM-JANMAN scheme, improve training for Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) and Supervisors, and address challenges within the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) program in the state.
The meeting concluded with Smt. Annapurna Devi reaffirms the government’s commitment to empowering women and children through initiatives such as Mission Saksham Anganwadi, Mission Vatsalya, and Mission Shakti. She called for timely action to overcome the challenges identified during the review to further the Prime Minister’s vision of a Viksit Bharat and women-led development.
