The "NANDGHAR" initiative, conceptualized by the current Prime Minister and former Chief Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, aims to give a distinct identity to Anganwadi centers. The children attending these centers are considered "Shri Krishna," while the Anganwadi workers and helpers who take care of them are regarded as "Mata Yashoda."
Anganwadi centers provide supplementary nutrition and pre-primary education to children. These centers are constructed with well-equipped infrastructure to ensure optimal benefits for the beneficiaries.
Facilities such as toilets, drinking water, electricity connection, halls, kitchens, wash areas, and storage rooms are included in the construction of these centers.
In rural areas, the construction of Anganwadi centers falls under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme, with a unit cost of Rs. 12.00 lakh. This cost is divided as follows: Rs. 8.00 lakh from MGNREGA, Rs. 2.00 lakh from the Women and Child Development department, and Rs. 2.00 lakh from the 15th Finance Commission (or any other untied funds).
For the first time in 2021-22, the government approved the construction of Anganwadi centers in urban areas under the 100% state burden scheme. Under this scheme, the state government allocates 100% of the grant at a unit cost of Rs. 12.00 lakh. Apart from the aforementioned funding sources,
Anganwadi centers are also constructed through various district-level schemes and in collaboration with corporate social responsibility (CSR) organizations.
Currently, there are 53,029 functioning Anganwadi centers in the state. This includes 29,468 centers in rural areas, 13,315 centers in tribal areas, and 10,246 centers in urban areas
