Gadchiroli Sept. 1 (District Correspondent) Nutrition Innovation and Skill Development Centres are being started in 10 districts of the country by the Central Government and we are proud to have selected only Gadchiroli district from Maharashtra, said Women and Child Development Minister Aditi Tatkare hoping that Gadchiroli district will be a leader in the health and nutrition of pregnant and lactating mothers and adolescent children by showing remarkable performance through this centre.
Skill Development Centre under Integrated Child Development Service Scheme was inaugurated by Ms. Tatkare at Zilla Parishad High School today. Food and Drug Administration Minister Dharmarao Baba Atram presided over the programme. Commissioner of ICDS Kailas Pagare, District Collector Sanjay Daine, CEO Ayushi Singh were mainly present on this occasion.
Ms. Tatkare further said that this skill development centre will play an important role in enhancing the technical skills and capacity of Anganwadi supervisors, Anganwadi workers and helpers who are at the forefront of women and child health development. Training should be given to as many supervisors in the state as possible from this centre so that they can also train Anganwadi workers and helpers in other districts, she advised.
Anganwadi Sewika is the second most important woman in a child’s life after his mother. A healthy future of the state is to be created through Anganwadi workers and for this it is necessary to empower them. The need for proper guidance and skill development of Anganwadi workers to prevent malnutrition will be fulfilled through this centre, she hoped.
Mr. Dharmarao Baba Atram thanked the central government for starting skill development centre in forested, remote and difficult Naxal-infested district like Gadchiroli. This center will be helpful in controlling the problem of malnutrition here, he hoped adding that food should be consumed like medicine otherwise medicine will have to be taken like food.
Kailas Pagare made an introductory speech and informed that the skill development centre is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities including 3D models for demonstrations, growth monitoring, health screening, nutrition assessment tools, kitchen for demonstration of food preparation, and digital technology materials. These facilities will enable the trainees to acquire hands-on experience and enhance their skills in areas of vital importance to the welfare of their beneficiaries, he said.
Senior consultant of Geez Company who cooperated in this project Dr. Tapan Gope, Suranjit Prasad of Jepingo Company also expressed their views on this occasion.
A large number of senior officials of women and child welfare department, Anganwadi supervisors, Anganwadi workers, helpers attended the program.
