Centre sanctions four new ICDS projects for HP

Shimla, Aug 20 (UNI) The Centre has sanctioned four new Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) projects for Himachal Pradesh, state Welfare Minister Rangila Ram Rao said.

Speaking at the All India Interdepartmental Co-operations Dialogue and Meeting on Social Justice in New Delhi yesterday, he said about five lakh children and 1.50 lakh mothers would benefit from the scheme.

Mr Rao said 10,894 additional anganwari centres had been sanctioned under the projects, which would start functioning in the next three months.

About 22,000 anganwari workers and helpers would be recruited to run the projects. The projects would be run by a network of anganwaries functioning in 72 development blocks of the state.

He said the state government had already constituted several welfare boards for the upliftment of various communities like Gaddis, Labana, Gujjar, Kabirpanthis and Gorkhas and special care has been provided to them.

Seventeen new student hostels would be opened for SC/ST/OBC category in the state in the near future, he said and added that the government had also set up six ashram schools for children of Nomadic Gujjar tribes.

The Welfare Minister said Himachal Pradesh government had also increased financial assistance to inmates of Bal and Balika Ashrams from Rs 6,000 to Rs 10,000 per annum to ensure respectable and dignified life to them.

UNI AS DP SP GC1755