Intro: The government announces large-scale recruitment and welfare measures to strengthen Anganwadi services and childcare systems statewide

Lucknow

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday announced that the state government plans to recruit more than 5,000 Anganwadi workers and over 60,000 helpers during the current year.

He said that the recruitment process has already begun and will be carried out in a transparent manner. The announcement was made during a programme held at Lok Bhawan, where several Anganwadi-related projects were inaugurated.

The Chief Minister stated that the government is also focusing on strengthening social security measures for Anganwadi workers and helpers. He said that they have been brought under important insurance schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana. In addition, nearly three lakh workers and helpers are being provided health insurance coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh annually under Ayushman Bharat, which aims to support their medical needs.

Taking a critical view of the system before 2017, he alleged that the supply of nutritional supplements was earlier influenced by a “liquor mafia,” leading to misuse and diversion of resources meant for women and children. He said that the present government has removed such practices and introduced transparency, ensuring that appointments are made strictly on merit. He also highlighted that services are being digitised, with the use of smartphones and modern growth-monitoring devices to improve efficiency. Smartphones will soon be distributed to Anganwadi workers across all districts to help in real-time data collection.

He said Anganwadi centres will support the National Education Policy with pre-primary classes, while 27,000 centres will be merged. He also praised workers for their key role in nutrition and maternal health.