Latest news with #ICDS
Time of India
9 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
New tools offer breakthrough in tackling 'hidden hunger' in India
NEW DELHI: A new toolkit developed by The George Institute for Global Health (GIGH), India, in collaboration with Rutgers University, US and other international partners, promises to reshape India's response to malnutrition by helping map and understand its complex food environments. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The study, published in Current Developments in Nutrition, addresses how availability, affordability, and access to food influence nutritional outcomes in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) like India. The GIGH is an independent medical research organisation with a focus on improving the health of millions worldwide, particularly those living in disadvantaged settings. Established in 1999 and headquartered in Sydney, it operates major research centres in India, China, and the UK. Led by Shauna Downs of Rutgers and featuring Suparna Ghosh-Jerath from The George Institute, the research introduces a 'Food Environment Toolbox' that includes seven practical tools such as participatory mapping and market assessments. These tools were piloted across rural, urban, and peri-urban areas in India and Cambodia. India's food landscape is shifting rapidly, with growing market dependence not matched by better nutrition. 'We developed the toolbox through an iterative process, ensuring it reflects the realities of LMICs,' said Dr. Ghosh-Jerath. The country continues to battle a double burden—widespread nutrient deficiencies alongside rising diet-related diseases. National surveys reveal severe anaemia among women and children, underscoring the need for diet quality over mere calorie sufficiency. The new toolkit could enhance key nutrition schemes like POSHAN Abhiyaan, ICDS, and the Mid-Day Meal Scheme by aligning them more closely with regional food realities. 'The tools were adaptable across diverse contexts,' noted Dr. Downs, calling them a 'timely step toward more effective, evidence-based nutrition policy.'
Hans India
a day ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Lessons on good touch, bad touch by anganwadi teachers to students
Hyderabad: The Anganwadi teachers will now teach the students about 'good touch and bad touch' as the government is planning to have a tie up with voluntary organisations which work on women security and bring up a policy for security of women. This was disclosed by the Women and Child Welfare Minister Dhanasari Anasuya (Seethakka) after a brainstorming conference, which has given life to many new ideas for women and child welfare. The minister said that the brainstorming conferences will be organised once every three months. She said by organising such conferences in the districts, the desired goals can be achieved. The voluntary organisations and intellectuals working on women and child welfare gave their valuable suggestions in this conference. The Minister said that girls will be made aware of 'good touch and bad touch' through Anganwadi teachers. She said that voluntary organisations working on the safety of women and girls will be identified and Anganwadis will be linked with them. A meeting would be held soon with voluntary organisations working on women's rights and strong policies will be formulated for the safety of women. She said that an advisory committee with experts would be formed for women and child welfare. She revealed that the services provided by the department would be further strengthened with their suggestions. Friendship committees will be formed with girls for the protection of girls these committees will work as self-protection teams, said the minister. Seethakka said that in many places, newborn babies were being abandoned in bushes and garbage dumps. She said that cradles will be set up wherever possible to prevent this. She said that instead of throwing the babies away if they were left in those cradles, the government would take their responsibility. The Minister said that it was sad that even after 10 years of Telangana's formation, the rules of the Prevention of Child Marriage Act were not adopted. She announced that the rules would be adopted soon. The Minister said that people should be made aware of the harm caused by child marriages in village assemblies and other government programs. She said that the seeds of ICDS schemes were planted in the Telangana region. She recalled that freedom fighter Durgabai Deshmukh started ICDS in Mahabubnagar in 1972. Based on those experiences, Indira Gandhi expanded the ICDS scheme across the country. She said that Durgabai Deshmukh and Indira Gandhi were the pioneers of Anganwadi services.
Hans India
2 days ago
- General
- Hans India
Telangana: Minister Seethakka unveils new initiatives for Women and Child Welfare
Dhanasari Anasuya Seethakka, the Women and Child Welfare Minister, announced at the conclusion of a two-day brainstorming conference that numerous innovative ideas have emerged to enhance the welfare of women and children. The minister described the event as a success and confirmed plans to organise similar conferences every three months to achieve significant goals by engaging local districts. Minister Seethakka highlighted the valuable suggestions made by voluntary organisations and intellectuals dedicated to women and child welfare. He announced the establishment of an advisory committee comprising experts to further bolster services provided by the department. In a bid to enhance the safety of girls, the minister introduced the formation of "friendship committees," which will function as self-protection teams. Anganwadi teachers will educate girls on concepts of good touch and bad touch, and the government will also connect Anganwadi centres with voluntary organisations focused on the safety of women and girls. Addressing the alarming issue of abandoned newborns, the minister expressed his concern over babies being discarded in hazardous locations. He proposed setting up cradles to provide a safe alternative for those who might otherwise be abandoned. Minister Seethakka lamented the lack of adoption of the rules regarding the Prevention of Child Marriage Act in Telangana, even after ten years of the state's formation, and assured that these rules would be implemented promptly. He stressed the importance of raising awareness about the detrimental effects of child marriage in village assemblies and governmental programmes. Recalling the beginnings of Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) in Telangana, the minister reiterated the need to modernise Anganwadi services, promising that this year, 1,000 Anganwadi centres would receive dedicated buildings. He urged district collectors to identify suitable locations for these centres. Highlighting the pivotal role of Anganwadi staff in shaping the future of the country, Minister Seethakka mandated regular meetings between Anganwadi staff and local villagers every Friday, echoing a previous initiative in Karimnagar, and emphasised the need to increase admissions and attendance at these centres. The minister also announced the formation of girl protection teams to ensure the safety and self-defence of girls, warning that any harassment would lead to severe consequences for offenders. He stressed the importance of educating boys on the repercussions of inappropriate behaviour towards girls, reinforcing a zero-tolerance stance on harassment.
Hans India
2 days ago
- General
- Hans India
Training on vulnerable children's data collection held
Markapur: Prakasam district collector A Thameem Ansariya said that a thorough field-level study of vulnerable children's family circumstances will enable the government to identify their needs and provide appropriate support to these families. Speaking at a training programme held at the MEPMA office in Markapur on Wednesday, the collector outlined the launch of a specialised mobile application designed to study the living conditions of vulnerable children's families. The training session focused on familiarising staff with this new digital tool for comprehensive data collection. As a pilot project, Racharla mandal of the district is selected for conducting the comprehensive study of vulnerable children's family situations. Through this initiative, officials have already identified 360 children requiring various forms of assistance. Among these, several children needed wheelchairs, which have been promptly provided to them. The study programme involves collaboration between multiple departments including ICDS, Education Department, medical staff, and representatives from voluntary organisations operating in respective areas. This multi-sectoral approach aims to ensure comprehensive coverage and support for vulnerable families. The collector emphasised that this systematic approach will help families access essential government services including housing approvals, Aadhaar cards, ration cards, school admissions, and other necessary support services. She instructed women police personnel and ICDS staff to gain complete understanding of the application and accurately record detailed information about vulnerable children's family circumstances, ensuring their genuine needs are properly documented in the system. Markapur Sub-Collector Sahadit Venkata Trivinag, District Women and Child Protection Officer Hena Sujan, DCPO Dinesh Kumar, Bangaru Balyam Nodal Officer Giridhar Sharma, SARDS representative Sunil, ICDS staff, women police personnel, and other officials.
Time of India
3 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Govt plans survey of orphaned children, single-parent kids in state
Bhubaneswar: State govt has announced plans to conduct a comprehensive survey of orphaned children and those with single parents. District collectors have been instructed to coordinate with relevant departments to conduct the survey through anganwadi workers. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The primary objective is to identify vulnerable children and integrate them into a unified protective network. The initiative aims to ensure these children can access various govt welfare schemes and receive necessary support. "This is to request you to conduct a survey of orphans and children of single parents in your respective districts and their households in the enclosed formats through anganwadi workers. District social welfare officer (DSWO), Integrated Child Development Service (ICDS), and child development project officers under your control may be entrusted to supervise the survey exercise," read the letter from the women and child development department to collectors. It said a survey cell should be set up at the district level. The department said consolidated information regarding the survey outcome should be submitted by Sept 4. Govt sources said there will be training of anganwadi workers on how to fill up the forms and elicit information. The previous govt conducted a survey of orphans five years ago, with the numbers around 2.5 lakh. This is the second time the survey is being done to include their details like conditions in which they are living, orphanage or any other place. "After 2020, their number may have increased significantly as many children were orphaned because of the Covid-19 pandemic. There could be more children of single parents as in many cases either the mother or father died. In many families, both died," said a govt officer.
