Chandigarh:  The Punjab government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, has embarked on a transformational mission to strengthen early childhood care and development. With a bold vision and a dedicated budget of ₹200 crore, the state is building 1,419 new Anganwadi centres and revamping existing ones to elevate the quality of services provided to women and children across the state.

• In Phase 1, 1,000 new centres are being constructed.
• So far:
• 56 centres are already complete
• 644 centres are under active construction
• 300 more have been approved, with 156 already receiving clearance
• Additionally, 350 existing Anganwadi centres will be upgraded to meet improved standards of service.

Facilities That Empower

The revamp also includes key infrastructure upgrades:

• New Toilets:
  ₹7.78 crore allocated for building 2,162 new toilets at Anganwadi centres
• Drinking Water Access:
  ₹35.30 lakh earmarked to enhance safe drinking water availability at 353 centres
• Furniture Modernisation:
  ₹21.85 crore sanctioned for new furniture in 21,851 centres to create a child-friendly learning environment

To ensure quality care and outreach, the government is significantly bolstering its Anganwadi workforce:

• In August 2023, 5,714 Anganwadi workers and helpers were recruited purely on merit
• In September 2024, the CM announced 3,000 new posts for Anganwadi workers, expanding the strength of this critical support system

Technology Integration: Nutrition Monitoring Goes Digital

To ensure efficient service delivery, the state has introduced the ‘Poshan’ app under the POSHAN Abhiyaan of the Ministry of Women and Child Development. This mobile app:

• Tracks the nutritional status of children and expectant mothers
• Empowers Anganwadi workers with real-time data for better decision-making
• Each worker is provided ₹2,000 annually to cover mobile data usage for app operations

A Holistic Vision for Child and Women Welfare

This multi-pronged initiative reflects Punjab’s deep commitment to nurturing the early years of life and supporting women’s well-being. With modern infrastructure, enhanced manpower, and smart technology, the government is creating an inclusive, nurturing, and development-ready ecosystem.

“Strong Anganwadi centres mean stronger futures for our children. This initiative is not just about buildings—it’s about building lives,” said a senior government official.

Punjab is setting a powerful example for how compassion, governance, and innovation can come together to uplift the most foundational level of society.