Shillong: Meghalaya has 6,188 Anganwadi centres across the state, of which 666 are operating from rented or temporary buildings, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma told the Assembly on Tuesday.
Sangma said 5,522 Anganwadi centres are located in buildings owned either by the government or the community. He said the government is taking up construction and upgradation of Anganwadi centres in convergence with the Community and Rural Development (CNRD) department and under the Meghalaya Early Childhood Development Mission.
Responding to a supplementary question from TMC MLA Dr Mizanur Kazi, Sangma informed the House that Selsella has 299 Anganwadi centres, of which 211 are owned and 27 operate from rented buildings.
The Chief Minister said water supply is available in 1,371 of the state’s 6,188 Anganwadi centres, while 561 have toilet facilities.
On kitchen facilities, Sangma said the government did not have details on whether each centre had a separate kitchen. However, he said all centres providing hot cooked meals have a space where food can be prepared.
Under the Anganwadi Services Supplementary Nutrition Programme, supplementary nutrition is provided for 25 days a month. It includes hot cooked meals for children aged three to six years and take-home rations for children aged six months to three years, pregnant and nursing mothers and adolescents.
Sangma said the government has also taken steps to expand the hot cooked meal programme, with meals to be provided twice a week along with eggs.
1,670 Anganwadi buildings completed
The Chief Minister clarified that the 666 rented or temporary centres are separate from the 2,148 centres where construction or renovation is currently being undertaken.
Of the 2,148 centres, 1,670 buildings have already been completed, he said.
Sangma said ₹64 crore has already been spent on the project, while an additional ₹83 crore has been sanctioned for the remaining work. The project is being implemented through convergence between an externally aided early childhood development project and MGNREGS.
He said the government faces difficulties in constructing permanent buildings for the 666 rented or temporary centres mainly because of the lack of available land, particularly in urban areas.
Govt monitoring nutrition supply
Kazi also raised concerns over complaints regarding the quality and timely supply of nutrition to children.
Sangma said regular checks are carried out by the department to monitor the quality, timely implementation and distribution of nutrition. He acknowledged that concerns may arise given the large network of 6,188 centres, but said corrective action would be taken whenever specific problems are brought to the government’s notice.
Child stunting falls from 46.5% to 36%
On the implementation of Poshan Abhiyan and Saksham Anganwadi, Sangma said the schemes are being implemented at the grassroots level and cited National Family Health Survey data showing a decline in child stunting.
According to the figures cited by him, the percentage of stunted children below five years has fallen from 46.5% to around 36% over the last three years.
Sangma said the government has also introduced the Thousand Days Programme, which tracks a child’s health from conception until the age of two and provides interventions at different stages.
He said the government aims to bring stunting and malnutrition levels down further, including below the national average.
Govt to conduct special study on maternal anaemia in East Garo Hills
Leader of Opposition and former Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma raised concerns over high levels of anaemia among pregnant women, particularly in East Garo Hills.
He said that during his visits to hospitals, CHCs and PHCs, he had found that more than 70% of mothers admitted in hospitals in East Garo Hills were anaemic. He claimed that some mothers had haemoglobin levels of around 6–7 and often had to be referred outside the district for blood transfusions.
Dr Mukul Sangma urged the government to conduct a special survey and develop a focused strategy to address maternal anaemia in the district.
Responding to the concern, Sangma said the government has an online, real-time tracking system for pregnant women and identifies those considered high-risk.
He said around 10–15% of pregnant women are classified as high-risk at any given time, with anaemia being one of the major factors.
The government provides additional nutritional and medical interventions to high-risk mothers and facilitates their stay in safe motherhood houses or transit homes before delivery, he said.
Sangma agreed to conduct a special study and audit of maternal health in East Garo Hills, saying the district would receive special attention.
He also said Meghalaya’s maternal mortality rate has declined by 55%, which he described as the highest reduction in the country.