The chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has stressed on providing quality food to children at Anganwadi Centres. He said that there is a need to rope in Markfed for procurement and distribution of essentials as a pilot project, and called for third-party inspection to assure supply of quality food. He also organised a review meeting on maintenance of anganwadi centres, provision of quality food to children and welfare of physically handicapped persons, attended by minister for women and child welfare and senior authorities.
Jagan directed the authorities to address the lapses in distribution of food with more stress on quality food. He ordered to provide only sortex rice to anganwadi centres and for mid-day meal in schools. He said there must be special focus to train children at anganwadi centres on language and its pronunciation. They must be taught pre-primary 1 and 2 textbooks in bilingual method.
Jagan said to officials to display posters with special numbers at all anganwadi centres to allow children or their parents to file complaints on lapses in maintenance of these. He advised the officials to arrange a special fund for maintenance and cleanliness of AWCs on lines of the Toilet Maintenance Fund and School Maintenance Fund in schools.
For the welfare of physically handicapped, the CM asked the officials to provide required services to these persons at village and ward Secretariats. Upgradation of a Bhavitha Centre in every assembly segment for their benefit was also suggested. Jagan Mohan Reddy felt the need to appoint an IAS officer to supervise the functioning and maintenance of juvenile homes in Andhra Pradesh.