Will the Union Government Release Guidelines for Anganwadi and School Co-location?
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Synopsis
The Union government is set to unveil essential guidelines for co-locating anganwadi centres with schools, aimed at enhancing early childhood education and care. This initiative is a major step towards realizing the vision of 'Viksit Bharat' and tackling malnutrition among children.
Key Takeaways
- New guidelines for co-locating anganwadis with schools.
- Focus on early childhood education and integrated care.
- Over 2.9 lakh anganwadis already co-located with schools.
- Collaboration between multiple ministries to enhance child welfare.
- Significant improvements in malnutrition indicators among children.
New Delhi, Sep 2 (NationPress) The Union government is set to unveil new guidelines on co-locating anganwadi centres with schools on Wednesday, an initiative designed to establish a strong foundation for the human capital of 'Viksit Bharat' (developed India), as confirmed by an official on Tuesday.
The guidelines are being developed by the Ministry of Women and Child Development in partnership with the Department of School Education and Literacy, part of the Ministry of Education.
Union Women and Child Development Minister, Annpurna Devi, along with Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, will grace the occasion.
This initiative represents a pivotal advancement towards realizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a robust foundation for 'Viksit Bharat', according to an official statement.
The guidelines will highlight the significance of early childhood care and education through integrated frameworks, including the collaboration of anganwadis and schools.
Currently, over 2.9 lakh anganwadi centres are already co-located with schools. The new guidelines will offer essential operational clarity, empowering states and Union Territories (UTs) to effectively expand this model, the statement noted.
The event will also feature senior officials from the Ministry of Women and Child Development, the Department of School Education and Literacy, as well as representatives from various states/UTs, including anganwadi workers.
According to government data from the Poshan Tracker Data up to June 2025, West Bengal (1,18,680) and Uttar Pradesh (1,17,788) lead in the number of anganwadis that have functioned for at least 80 percent of working days.
Multiple rounds of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) conducted by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare since 1992-93 have indicated improvements in child malnutrition indicators across India.
The NFHS-5, conducted from 2019 to 2021, revealed that 35.5 percent of children displayed signs of stunting, 32.1 percent were underweight, and 19.3 percent were suffering from wasting.
The estimated population of children up to five years in India for 2021 stands at approximately 13.75 crore (Source: population projections for India and states 2011-2036, National Commission on Population, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare).
However, only 7.36 crore children under five were registered in anganwadis and recorded on the Poshan Tracker of the Ministry of Women and Child Development according to data from June 2025.
Nearly seven crore of these children were assessed for height and weight growth parameters.
Approximately 37.07 percent were found to be stunted, 15.93 percent underweight, and 5.46 percent wasted.
Point of View
This initiative by the Union government showcases a commendable commitment to strengthening early childhood education and addressing malnutrition. The collaboration between various ministries underlines the importance of a unified approach to child welfare, which is essential for the progression of a developed India.
NationPress
02/09/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the new guidelines about?
The new guidelines focus on co-locating anganwadi centres with schools to enhance early childhood education and care.
Who will be present at the announcement?
Union Women and Child Development Minister Annpurna Devi and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan will be present.
How many anganwadis are currently co-located with schools?
There are over 2.9 lakh anganwadi centres co-located with schools.
What improvements have been noted in child malnutrition?
The NFHS-5 survey indicated improvements in stunting, underweight, and wasting among children.
What is the estimated child population in India?
The projected population of children up to five years in India for 2021 is around 13.75 crore.
