Deputy Commissioner Snehal R has directed officials to expedite the recruitment process for vacant posts in anganwadi centres across Dharwad district and complete the exercise by August. Chairing a review meeting on schemes implemented by the Women and Child Development Department, she said 1,622 anganwadi centres are functioning in the district. Of these, 51 anganwadi worker posts and 371 helper posts remain vacant. Currently, 1,571 workers and 1,251 helpers are serving in the centres.
Infrastructure strengthening
The DC stressed the need to strengthen anganwadi infrastructure. Of the 170 new anganwadi buildings sanctioned in the district, 111 have been completed, 27 are under construction, and work on the remaining 32 has yet to begin. She instructed officials to expedite the pending works.
Child welfare and nutrition
Emphasising child welfare and nutrition, Snehal directed officials to ensure uninterrupted distribution of supplementary nutrition to children and proper implementation of the Matrupoorna scheme for pregnant and lactating women. She also called for regular health check-ups for children and improvement in the quality of pre-school education in anganwadi centres.
Awareness and prevention
The DC instructed officials to organise awareness programmes at the gram panchayat level to prevent atrocities against women and children, and to give wider publicity to the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao scheme. She also called for greater awareness about hostels for working women, efficient functioning of childcare centres, and effective measures to prevent child marriages. Reviewing the functioning of the State Women’s Home in Hubballi, she instructed officials to fill vacant positions through outsourcing arrangements.
Darshan Santhwana Centre relocation
Snehal directed officials to shift the Darshan Santhwana Centre from Dharwad to Uppin Betageri and ensure it functions in line with its original objectives. Speaking at the meeting, District Legal Services Authority member secretary and senior civil judge Allappa Badiger stressed the need for close monitoring of cases registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act. He also called for sustained awareness campaigns to prevent violence and atrocities against women.
