They are as much the frontline warriors as anyone else in the essential services, and are the unsung heroes given the mind-boggling numbers they serve.
On a daily basis, the Anganwadi teachers are reaching out to 3,32,427 pregnant and lactating mothers as well as 4,61,800 children, besides around 8,446 undernourished children.
About 64,000 Anganwadi teachers across the State, brushing aside the threat of contracting coronavirus, continue to render their services along with scores of doctors, nurses, police personnel and sanitary staff. The Anganwadi teachers are ensuring that every child, pregnant women and lactating mother have access to nutritious food even during the lockdown.
On a daily basis, the Anganwadi teachers are reaching out to 3,32,427 pregnant and lactating mothers as well as 4,61,800 children, besides around 8,446 undernourished children, who are covered under the State government’s Arogya Lakshmi scheme to get nutritious food.
While the first phase of disbursement of essential commodities to the beneficiaries began soon after the nationwide lockdown was imposed on March 23, the second phase of disbursement commenced on Monday.
With minimal resources available, the Anganwadi teachers are using all sorts of transportation – two-wheelers, cycles and even push carts – to make sure that the essential commodities reach the beneficiaries at their door-steps.
They are ready to take on any challenge as is evident from the acts of some of these brave-hearts who have been going through forest areas and crossing slippery streams in tribal areas in a display of their commitment to supply nutritious food to the needy.
Telangana IT and Industries Minister K T Rama Rao shared the untiring efforts of one of the Anganwadi teachers on social media, terming them as Citizen Heroes and thus, that boosted their morale further.
With some staff working from home due to the lockdown, the Women Development and Child Welfare department in the State has been supporting them in working out logistics including supply of essentials from depots to ensure smooth execution at delivery level by the Anganwadi teachers.
Under the Arogya Lakshmi programme, each beneficiary receives 150 grams of rice, 30 grams of dal, 200 ml milk, 16 grams oil and a egg for daily consumption. In one go, they are handing over 15-day ration to the beneficiaries.
Terming them as ‘superheroes in sarees,’ Women Development and Child Welfare commissioner D Divya was effusive in praise of all the Anganwadi teachers who, braving all odds are functioning every day in these trying times of lockdown.
The Anganwadi teachers have also been drafted for duties of fever surveillance in the neighborhood and distributing rations in PDS shops. “Despite multiple duties, they are working on a ‘mission mode’ to ensure the delivery of essential commodities to the most vulnerable sections of the population,” she said. #KhabarLive