Anganwadis to go hi-tech, record nutrition data on tablet PCs

Anganwadis to go hi-tech, record nutrition data on tablet PCs

New Delhi, June 14

Anganwadi centres across the country will soon go hi-tech with the government planning to equip them with tablet PC devices installed with a customised software for regular monitoring of nutrition supply to malnourished children.


The software will enable Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) to upload various data like dietary intake and health updates of children and supply of foodgrains and supplementary nutrition on a daily basis.

The move will help the government assess the impact of its flagship programme for providing supplementary nutrition -- Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) -- through regular monitoring and supervision and bridge the gap between recommended diet and average daily intake.

"Anganwadi centres will be provided with software-enabled tablet devices through which they would be able to upload data as and when required. It will help them record the nutrition supply levels of the children and upload it directly," a senior official of Women and Child Development Ministry told PTI.

Monitoring implementation of ICDS has been a challenge for the government as currently the data on nutrition supply is received from the states and Union Territories in the form of periodic reports.

The government had established Central Monitoring Units in 2007 as a mechanism for regular supervision and evaluation.

However, a recent audit by a parliamentary panel had found it was being operated without a professional consultant and there was a significant shortfall in growth monitoring under the scheme.

"By equipping them with tablets we would be able to identify malnourished children much faster and more nutrition can be supplied," the official said.

ICDS provides supplementary nutrition, pre-school education, nutrition and health education and check-ups for the economically-weaker sections through a network of around 13.42 lakh AWCs.

The services are currently being provided to 1,045.08 lakh beneficiaries of whom 849.4 lakh are children under six.

Around 370.7 lakh children of 3-6 years are given pre-school education.

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1,191 Persons with disabilities provided high quality aids and assistive devices under the ADIP scheme 

ALIMCO distributes Assistive Aids and Appliances for Persons with Disabilities at Ballia 

Union Minister for Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Shri Thaawar Chand Gehlot in the presence of Shri Bharat Singh, Member of Parliament, Constituency Ballia inaugurated a camp for free of cost distribution of assistive aids and appliances at Ballia in U.P. here today. The Camp was organized by Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO), Kanpur working under Department Of Empowerment Of Persons With Disabilities, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in close association with district administration Ballia. 

While addressing the gathering present at the distribution camp Shri Thaawar Chand Gehlot, Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment said that the differently abled persons are highly talented and are integral part of human resource, the Minister also informed about the welfare step taken by his Ministry during the last one years and educated the public about various new high- end aids and assistive devices which were distributed at the camp. 

A total of 1,191 Persons with different kind of disabilities were provided with high quality aids and assistive devices valuing more than Rs 86 Lakhs under the ADIP scheme of the Ministry. The beneficiaries were pre-identified during the assessment camps conducted in various phases in Ballia district. 

High quality Aids and Assistive devices were distributed at the camp manufactured by ALIMCO which includes the new innovative product like battery operated Motorized Tricycle, as many as 50 beneficiaries were provided with battery driven Motorized Tricycle. Various other high-end contemporary Aids and Assistive device distributed in the camp includes Smart Cane, Tablet, Daisy Player for visually impaired. 808- Tricycles, 108-Wheelchairs, 662- Crutches Axilla, 248- Walking Sticks 01- Rolators for Orthopedically Impaired persons, 02-MSID Kits for Children With Special Needs, 115-Behind The Ear - Hearing Aid machines, 01-Braille Kit and 32-Folding Cane for Visually Impaired. 

Several senior officers from Ministry Social Justice and Empowerment, District administration, Public representatives, officers from ALIMCO and dignitaries were present during in the event.