Hyderabad: Telangana Women and Child Welfare Minister Seethakka on Friday issued a stern warning to contractors and district officials over serious lapses in Anganwadi ration supply across the state.
Supply shortfalls draw strong warning
During a video conference with District Women and Child Welfare Officers (DWOs), Seethakka reviewed the implementation of key departmental schemes. She clearly directed that no disruptions should occur in delivering nutritional items such as milk, eggs, pulses, rice, oil, balamrutham, and snacks. These supplies are critical for children, pregnant individuals, and nursing mothers.
However, she expressed strong dissatisfaction after discovering that some districts had not achieved even 50 percent of expected supply. As a result, she warned contractors not to repeat failures seen under the previous administration. She instructed officials to issue notices and place non-compliant vendors on a denylist. “There will be zero compromise in ensuring nutrition for children and mothers,” she declared.
Targets set for attendance and learning
Seethakka mandated that all Anganwadi centres open by 9 a.m. without exception. Any delay, she stated, would invite disciplinary action. Furthermore, she instructed that each centre must enroll at least one new child per month. Centres must also maintain preschool-level learning standards to earn the trust of parents.
She reported that attendance among pregnant individuals stood at 80 percent, while nursing mothers recorded 85 percent. Child attendance, however, remained at 68 percent. Therefore, she set a goal of increasing it to 90 percent through improved local engagement.
Technology and infrastructure upgrades underway
Seethakka announced that 90 percent of beneficiaries were now receiving rations using the Face Recognition System (FRS). As a result, Telangana currently leads all Indian states in this area. She directed that electricity, safe drinking water, and toilet facilities be completed at all Anganwadi centres by December.
Additionally, she required district officers to submit monthly progress reports without fail.
Crackdown on child marriages and facility checks
Calling for strict enforcement, Seethakka urged officials to eliminate child marriages entirely. She ordered district-level campaigns to prevent even a single case. Alongside this, she asked officials to conduct regular inspections at Shakti Sadan homes, stay homes, and working women’s hostels.
Department Secretary Anita Ramachandran, Director Shruti Ojha, and other senior officials joined the review session.