Punjab plans schemes for women and child development

Chandigarh, Jan 2 (UNI) The Punjab government is taking adequate steps to lay the foundation for proper psychological, physical and social development of the child, said Punjab Women and Child Development Minister Swarna Ram.

While addressing a high level meeting attended by senior officers of Health, Education and Rural Development and Panchayat Departments, the minister said the government had already chalked out an extensive programme to reduce the incidents of mortality, morbidity, malnutrition and school drop outs.

Mr Ram said that Intergrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) was already operational in 148 blocks of the state and total 20,169 Aganwari centre had been working in the state for implementation of this scheme.

Giving more details of the supplementary nutrition being provided to the beneficiaries, the minister said that from the age group of six month to six years children Rs 2.25 per day/per child was being given.

Similarly financial assistance to severely mal-nourished and pregnant women and nursing mothers was being given to the tune of Rs 3.00 and Rs 2.50 per day per beneficiary respectively.

Speaking on the occasion, Health Department Principal Secretary J R Kundal said that the health department had decided to appoint 15,000 Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) to monitor health system at the grass root levels.

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