Gandhinagar, March 12 (NationPress) On Thursday, Women and Child Development Minister Dr. Manisha Vakil responded robustly to the Congress party during the Gujarat Assembly session. Addressing MLA Jignesh Mevani's comments regarding Anganwadi workers and malnutrition, she asserted that the conditions of Anganwadi centres have notably improved under the current administration.

During discussions on the Women and Child Development Department's budgetary allocation of Rs 7,689.84 crore, Vakil highlighted that critics of the government should remember the previous state of affairs.

“Those questioning the changes should be reminded that under Congress governance, Anganwadi records were ravaged by termites, and the whereabouts of rations were unknown,” she stated.

She further emphasized, “Today, thanks to the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Anganwadi workers are equipped with smartphones and the 'Poshan Tracker' app, which allows for real-time monitoring of services extended to children in the most remote areas. This technology has introduced transparency to every level of society.”

Vakil's comments came in response to Mevani, who raised issues related to frontline workers and the nutritional status in the state. He argued that ASHA and Anganwadi workers were laboring without sufficient wages and benefits, urging the government to recognize them as “Ladli Behnas.”

“It is unacceptable for ASHA workers to remain without pensions or even minimum wages. Their survival depends solely on incentives. If we don’t act to provide them minimum wages now, when will we?” Mevani questioned.

He also cited alarming malnutrition statistics while discussing the conditions faced by tribal communities.

“Despite the presence of major real estate figures, business magnates, and corporations like Anand’s Amul Dairy, Dudhsagar Dairy, and Banas Dairy, the BJP government, which has maintained power for over 28 years with more than 150 seats, faces a troubling statistic—40 out of every 100 children are malnourished,” he remarked in the Assembly.

In her rebuttal, Vakil stated that Anganwadis in Gujarat had transformed from poorly kept facilities to modern, technology-driven centres.

“Once, Anganwadis were synonymous with dark, dilapidated rooms, with schemes lost to corruption. Now, they are ‘smart’ centres where children receive education through smart TVs and innovative methods,” she explained.

The minister announced the implementation of digital monitoring systems for nutrition services. Using the 'Poshan Tracker' application, authorities can track vital information such as a child's weight in remote tribal regions and the milk provided to them.

According to Vakil, more than 53,000 Anganwadi centres serving approximately 48 lakh beneficiaries are being integrated into an AI-based attendance and image-processing system, with an allocation of Rs 5 crore.

She mentioned that QR code technology has been introduced for the distribution of take-home rations to establish what she referred to as a “digital shield” for transparency.

Addressing nutrition outcomes, Vakil noted improvements compared to the National Family Health Survey-5 (2019–20).

“With the goal of achieving a malnutrition-free Gujarat, we have made significant strides. As of January 2026, the percentage of underweight individuals has decreased from 39.7 per cent to 11.4 per cent, a remarkable reduction of 28.30 per cent,” she stated.

She also stated that Anganwadi centres are being upgraded into “smart learning centres.”

Since January 2025, over 1,000 new Anganwadi centres have been inaugurated, with Rs 360 crore allocated for new Anganwadi facilities in 2026–27.

Focusing on initiatives for women, she noted that Gujarat ranks among the top in gender budgeting in the country, with nearly 39 per cent of the 2025–26 budget allocated for gender-specific programs, covering around 770 schemes for women.

Under the 'Chief Minister Matrushakti Yojana', Rs 284 crore has been designated for 5.22 lakh pregnant and lactating mothers.

The minister added that assistance had been approved for 3,35,607 girls under the 'Vahli Dikri' scheme, which encourages the birth and education of girls, complete with online application and real-time tracking features.

Regarding women’s safety, she stated that 17.96 lakh women have received help through the '181 Abhayam' helpline, which includes 3.58 lakh cases where immediate rescue teams were dispatched.

Furthermore, the state operates 270 'Nari Adalats' (women's courts) to amicably resolve family disputes.

Vakil mentioned that Anganwadis also support early childhood education initiatives, such as the ‘Pa Pa Pagli’ project, which has been allocated Rs 14.85 crore, and the 'Dudh Sanjeevani' scheme, benefiting around 13.5 lakh children with an allocation of Rs 205 crore.

She also highlighted the ‘Balika Panchayat’ initiative that commenced in Kunariya village, Kutch, and has now spread across the state, empowering girls aged 11 to 21 to engage in discussions concerning issues like child marriage and adolescent health.

“Children’s health transcends party lines; it is a societal responsibility. We must unite to create a resilient India through a ‘Suposhit Gujarat’,” she concluded.

Later, the Assembly approved the budgetary demands of the Women and Child Development Department.