Latest news with #Anganwadi
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
Chandigarh tops India in school education report
Chandigarh: Chandigarh has secured the top position in the Government of India's Performance Grading Index (PGI) 2.0, an annual assessment of school education systems across states and union territories, for two consecutive years — 2022-23 and 2023-24 — emerging as the only state or UT to reach the Prachesta-1 grade in either year. No other region crossed into even the next higher grade band, making Chandigarh's lead both significant and solitary. Its overall score improved from 688 in 2022–23 to 703 in 2023–24, driven by gains in infrastructure, access, and governance. However, the data also reveals specific areas where Chandigarh did not lead the country, particularly in governance processes, teacher education, and learning outcomes—domains where other states and UTs outperformed it. In governance processes, it scored 76.7 out of 130, remaining in the Prachesta-1 band. In comparison, Gujarat scored 87.8, while Odisha and Haryana also performed better in this domain. These governance indicators include digital fund transfers, student and teacher attendance systems, and timely data reporting—areas where Chandigarh still has room to strengthen implementation. Similarly, in the teacher education and training domain, Chandigarh scored 85.7 out of 100, placing it in the Utkarsh category. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Godrej Majesty | Luxurious 3 & 4 BHK Homes at ₹2.39 Cr* Godrej Majesty Learn More Undo However, Kerala, with a score of 91.4, became the only state or UT to achieve the topmost Daksh grade in this domain. This suggests scope for further enhancement in teacher qualification standards and in-service training in Chandigarh. Even in access, where Chandigarh had previously achieved the Daksh grade (2022–23), its score marginally declined from 72.9 to 72.4 in 2023–24, falling into the Utkarsh range. By contrast, Puducherry retained the Daksh grade in access this year. Nonetheless, Chandigarh's overall leadership reflects robust progress across most domains. It scored 148.0 out of 190 in Infrastructure & Facilities and 216.5 out of 260 in Equity, placing it in the Atti-Uttam and Utkarsh grades respectively. This success builds on several initiatives: 100% retention at all levels, 450 co-located Anganwadi centres, expanded vocational training, kitchen gardens in all government schools, and the installation of sanitary pad vending machines in previously uncovered institutions. The UT also leads in digital readiness, having implemented digital attendance in all government schools and seeded over 98% of student records with Aadhaar in the UDISE+ system. Social audits were introduced under the PM POSHAN scheme in 2023–24, and all children with special needs (CWSN) were provided with assistive devices. Importantly, Chandigarh maintained a consistent score of 103.6 in Learning Outcomes for three consecutive years, though no state or UT showed improvement here due to the reliance on NAS 2021 data. While the PGI 2.0 results are not directly comparable to earlier PGI formats, Chandigarh has ranked first nationally for three years in a row under the updated methodology. The next round may bring further movement, as results from the 2024 PARAKH national assessment—expected in July 2025—will inform updates in the Learning Outcomes and Equity domains. PGI 2.0 continues to serve as a powerful tool for states and UTs to monitor school education quality, push reforms, and work toward the goals set by the National Education Policy 2020 and Sustainable Development Goal 4. BOX-Domain-wise scores Learning outcomes (out of 240) 2022–23: 103.6 2023–24: 103.6 Access (out of 80) 2022–23: 72.9 2023–24: 72.4 Infrastructure and Facilities (out of 190) 2022–23: 136.5 2023–24: 148.0 Equity (out of 260) 2022–23: 216.4 2023–24: 216.5 Governance Processes (out of 130) 2022–23: 74.0 2023–24: 76.7 Teacher Education and Training (out of 100) 2022–23: 84.3 2023–24: 85.7 Total Score (out of 1000) 2022–23: 688 2023–24: 703 Overall Grade 2022–23: Prachesta-2 2023–24: Prachesta-1 BOX- What Chandigarh did well 100% retention at all school levels Three-year pre-primary cycle introduced in all government schools Digital attendance implemented in all government schools 450 Anganwadis co-located with schools Vocational education expanded from 38 to 47 government schools Kitchen gardens started in all government schools Over 98% students Aadhaar-seeded in UDISE+ Social audits conducted under PM POSHAN scheme Assistive devices provided to all CWSN (Children with special needs) students BOX- Where others outperformed Governance Processes: Chandigarh scored 76.7 out of 130 (Prachesta-1), while Gujarat scored 87.8, outperforming it in digital systems and fund disbursals. Teacher Education and Training: Chandigarh scored 85.7 (Utkarsh), but Kerala crossed into the Daksh category with 91.4, indicating stronger professional development standards. Access: Chandigarh slipped slightly from Daksh to Utkarsh (72.4 out of 80). Puducherry retained Daksh, reflecting stronger gains in enrolment and early learning participation. No domain-level top grade: Chandigarh did not achieve Daksh (top grade) in any individual domain, while Kerala and Delhi each did so in one.
Time of India
a day ago
- Health
- Time of India
Diarrhoea elimination campaign
Dharwad: To prevent life-threatening dehydration caused by diarrhoea in children below five years, a 'Severe Diarrhea Elimination Campaign – 2025' has been launched across Dharwad district. The campaign will run till July 31, said deputy commissioner Divya Prabhu. Inaugurating the campaign at the district hospital in Dharwad on Thursday, she said diarrhoea can lead to dangerous levels of dehydration in children, which can be fatal. She emphasised that this can be prevented by administering the correct dosage of ORS (Oral Rehydration Solution) and zinc tablets. The aim of the campaign is to reduce child deaths due to severe diarrhoea to zero. She advised that when a child experiences diarrhoea, ORS and zinc should be administered promptly to avoid dehydration. Parents are encouraged to visit the nearest health centre to avail free treatment. The campaign will be held in all health centres, sub-centres, and hospitals. ASHA and health workers will also conduct awareness programmes in schools and Anganwadi centers. ZP CEO Bhuvanesh Patil stressed that mothers should not stop breastfeeding when children suffer from diarrhoea, as doing so may increase the risk of dehydration.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Week-long immunisation drive to begin in Gurugram slums in late June
The district health department will launch a week-long immunization drive in late June, targeting children under five in slum clusters across the city. The campaign aims to deliver life-saving vaccines to vulnerable communities with limited healthcare access. While officials initially planned to focus on five major slums, the drive will now cover all informal settlements throughout Gurugram. According to health officials, the campaign will focus on vaccines under the National Immunisation Schedule, including those for polio, measles, diphtheria, tetanus, and hepatitis B. Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) and Anganwadi workers have already conducted door-to-door surveys to identify children who missed scheduled doses. 'This is a crucial opportunity for parents to ensure their children are protected from preventable but serious diseases. We request all guardians to bring their children to the nearby vaccination centres and be part of this important public health effort,' said Dr. Jaiprakash Rajliwal, deputy civil surgeon for Gurugram. Health workers will also conduct home visits in cases where children are unable to reach vaccination centres due to illness or other challenges. The department has compiled a list based on the surveys to ensure no eligible child is left behind. Dr Jaiprakash added that a child is considered fully immunised after receiving the BCG vaccine at birth (for tuberculosis), three doses of the oral polio vaccine (OPV 1, 2, and 3), three doses of the pentavalent vaccine (covering diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B, and Haemophilus influenzae type B), and the Measles-Rubella (MR1) vaccine at nine months. Daily progress of the campaign will be monitored, and any gaps or lags in coverage will be addressed in real time. Officials said the initiative is part of a broader effort to boost immunisation rates and prevent disease outbreaks in high-density, low-income settlements.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Govt mandates facial recognition for mid-day meal, Poshan beneficaries
The government has mandated compulsory facial recognition technology across India's vast Anganwadi network to expand biometric verification for the country's flagship nutrition and childcare programme. A directive from the ministry of women and child development, dated May 30 and seen by Hindustan Times, outlines a strict phased implementation affecting take-home rations distribution, child attendance tracking, and beneficiary registration through the Poshan Tracker application. The Face Authentication feature, previously available only at take-home rations distribution points, became accessible within beneficiary profiles on the Poshan Tracker app as of May 30 2025. Beneficiaries can now perform their own onboarding, including photo capture and electronic Know Your Customer (e-KYC) verification, directly through the app's citizen module. State authorities have been directed to ensure field functionaries 'complete the face authentication of all the registered beneficiaries' using these tools, while also encouraging beneficiaries to 'update the photo/mobile number in Aadhaar for completing the e-KYC seamlessly.' At present, beneficiaries are verified through Aadhaar based authentication in the Poshan Tracker app. The initiative faces resistance from ground-level workers. Shivani Kaul, president of the Delhi State Anganwadi Workers and Helpers' Union, told HT: 'This is yet another move by the centre to make the lives of Anganwadi workers miserable, we are already receiving several calls by workers that the app is not functioning properly. Another issue with this provision is that the privacy of the children gets compromised as thousands of pictures will be uploaded to the app and to the government's database. If the government cares so much about the corruption then why do they not fix app issues and increase the honorarium of the workers?' Poshan, or Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN), which was earlier known as the mid-day meal scheme, has an outlay of ₹85,794crore, comprising ₹54,061 crore from the Centre, from 2021-22 to 2025-26. Two major mandates take effect on July 1. Firstly, Anganwadi workers will be required to digitally record the attendance of children aged 3-6 years and confirm their consumption of the daily Hot Cooked Meal (HCM) provided at the centres. Secondly, to 'ensure last mile delivery of THR to intended beneficiaries,' the ministry said it 'has been decided that FRS will be made mandatory for THR distribution.' This means beneficiaries collecting their monthly nutritional rations must now verify their identity using facial recognition at the point of distribution. A further significant shift arrives on August 1, when facial recognition becomes a prerequisite for registration itself. For Pregnant Women (PW), Lactating Mothers (LM), and Adolescent Girls (AG), the 'precondition for registration will be self Aadhaar using eKYC and face recognition feature.' For children aged 0-6 years, registration will require the 'Aadhaar of Mother Father Guardian along with Face recognition,' with the ministry explicitly noting that 'Self-Aadhar for a child is not considered.' Additionally, for children aged 3-6 years, 'a child's picture with liveliness detection will also be captured' during registration, separate from the guardian's facial recognition system, with the ministry intending 'to leverage these images during service delivery for children.' Parents of children currently registered in the 0-3 year category must update their photo with liveliness detection when they move into the 3-6 year group. The National e-Governance Division (NeGD) has been formally tasked with implementing 'necessary modifications/updation in Poshan Tracker application' to support these new requirements.
India Today
3 days ago
- Health
- India Today
Women suffer as sanitary pad supply stops under Udaan scheme in Rajasthan's Dausa
In Rajasthan's Dausa district, women and adolescent girls are grappling with the absence of sanitary napkins under the 'Udaan' scheme, which was launched by the previous Ashok Gehlot-led Congress government. While the scheme has not been officially discontinued on paper, locals and Anganwadi workers say deliveries have stopped from August–September 2024, leaving rural beneficiaries without access to menstrual hygiene the 'Udaan' scheme, sanitary napkins are distributed free of cost through Anganwadis to girls and women aged 11 to 45 on a quarterly basis. The scheme was intended to promote menstrual hygiene and reduce school absenteeism among adolescent girls in villages. However, the current BJP-led government under Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, which came to power in December 2023, has been accused of showing indifference towards schemes started by the previous a ground report by India Today in Dausa, several women expressed frustration over the halted supplies. Keshpati Meena, a Saathin from Balaheda gram panchayat, said, 'It has been shut since August 2024, and we are facing a major problem. The girls are also suffering.' Another villager, Sheela, shared that when they inquired, the response was, 'Will give when they come.' Radha Sharma, the Anganwadi incharge in Balaheda, confirmed that napkins were last distributed on August 20, 2024. 'They've been distributed only thrice. Since September, we haven't received anything,' she women said the lack of sanitary napkins has led to health issues, including infections, as girls have been forced to resort to cloth during their periods. 'My daughter, who is 17, doesn't go to school once she starts her period,' said Hameedan Bano, a local resident. 'They say they will distribute when they get supplies. But when nothing is available, how will they?'advertisementIn Banswara and several other districts, the situation mirrors Dausa. Officials confirmed that sanitary napkin distribution has not taken place for over six months across much of the state. Deputy Director of Women Empowerment, Yugal Kishore Meena, told India Today, 'The last supply was in September. This is not just in Dausa. Procurement is done at the state level and then distributed to districts. We are in touch with the Directorate; RMS is the purchasing agency.'Critics claim this is part of a larger pattern. Since taking office, the Bhajanlal Sharma-led BJP government has either renamed or discontinued more than ten welfare schemes launched by the previous Congress government. These include changing the names of Chiranjeevi Health Insurance Scheme to Mukhyamantri Ayushman Arogya Yojana, Indira Rasoi to Annapoorna Rasoi, and Rajiv Gandhi Jal Swavalamban to Mukhyamantri Jal Swavalamban, among others. Other schemes, such as the Indira Smartphone Yojana and the Rajiv Gandhi Yuva Mitra programme, have reportedly been shelved Congress president Govind Singh Dotasra criticised the BJP government, saying, 'They have no intention of implementing the scheme on the ground.' In contrast, BJP state president Madan Rathore maintained, 'The Udaan scheme is ongoing. Sanitary napkins are being distributed.'For many women in rural Rajasthan, however, the gap between policy claims and ground reality continues to grow, especially when it comes to basic menstrual hygiene.
