New Delhi, September 8: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday shared an article by Union Minister for Women and Child Development Annpurna Devi highlighting government efforts to strengthen the Anganwadi system and improve nutrition outcomes among children, women and adolescent girls.
The article, shared by the Prime Minister, marks 10 years of the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana and Poshan Maah and calls for greater community participation in strengthening Anganwadi services.
The central message of the initiative is captured in the phrase “Hamari Anganwadi, Hamari Zimmedari”, or “Our Anganwadi, Our Responsibility”. The vision seeks to encourage communities to take a more active role in supporting Anganwadi centres and nutrition-related initiatives.
Focus on DBT, Social Audits and Nutrition
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the article highlights the role of Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), social audits and nutritious food in extending support to children, women and adolescent girls.
DBT mechanisms are intended to ensure that eligible beneficiaries receive financial assistance directly, while social audits can strengthen transparency and community oversight in the delivery of welfare services.
The article also underlines the importance of nutritious food as part of wider efforts to address malnutrition and improve the health and well-being of vulnerable groups.
Together, these measures are presented as important components of a stronger and more accountable Anganwadi system.
Turning Anganwadis into a People’s Movement
A key emphasis of the article is the need to move beyond viewing Anganwadi centres only as government service-delivery points and instead develop them into a people’s movement.
Community participation can play an important role in supporting nutrition programmes, monitoring services and increasing awareness about the benefits available to families.
The “Hamari Anganwadi, Hamari Zimmedari” vision therefore places responsibility not only on government institutions but also on communities and citizens to help ensure that Anganwadi centres effectively serve children, women and adolescent girls.
Ten Years of Matru Vandana Yojana and Poshan Maah
The article also highlights the significance of 10 years of the Matru Vandana Yojana and Poshan Maah as part of India’s broader nutrition and women-and-child welfare efforts.
The Matru Vandana Yojana focuses on providing support to eligible pregnant women and lactating mothers, while Poshan Maah has been used as a platform to create greater awareness around nutrition and encourage participation at the community level.
The initiatives form part of a wider policy approach aimed at improving nutrition outcomes and strengthening support systems for vulnerable sections of society.
Towards a Malnutrition-Free and Viksit Bharat
The broader objective highlighted in the article is to contribute towards a malnutrition-free India and Viksit Bharat.
Strengthening Anganwadi services, improving accountability, ensuring nutritional support and encouraging public participation are being positioned as interconnected elements of this effort.
The emphasis on community ownership is particularly significant because Anganwadi centres operate at the grassroots level and remain closely connected with families and local communities.
The “Hamari Anganwadi, Hamari Zimmedari” message seeks to reinforce this connection by encouraging people to view the functioning and effectiveness of Anganwadi centres as a shared responsibility.
By combining institutional support with community participation, the initiative aims to give greater momentum to India’s efforts to improve nutrition and promote the well-being of children, women and adolescent girls.
