Mangaluru: Dakshina Kannada additional deputy commissioner Raju K instructed officials to identify sites for anganwadi centres in the district, which are operating in rented buildings.He was chairing a progress review meeting of various schemes of the women and child development department held on Thursday at the DC’s office. There are a total of 2,131 anganwadi centres in the district, with 1,934 having their own buildings, and 25 under construction. Forty-eight centres are operating in rented buildings, he said and instructed officials to identify land for the remaining centres.Smart TVs, educational materials, kitchen gardens, water filters and hygiene kits have been provided to 1,384 anganwadi centres under the Saksham Anganwadi scheme. A proposal has been submitted to include the remaining centres in the scheme, he said.He congratulated the officials for securing the first position in the state and seventh in the nation among 966 Sakhi centres under the Mission Shakti scheme.In the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, full benefits are given to first-time pregnant women, he said and instructed to ensure that eligible mothers receive benefits when a second female child is born.Efforts should be made to increase awareness through the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme to prevent a decline in the female child sex ratio. Immediate action should be taken in cases of violence against women and children, he directed.The unique programme ‘Saanthvana Towards the Community’ is effectively running through the Saanthvana centres in Puttur and Bantwal taluks, and it was suggested that all centres in the district conduct such programmes through the department.Officials informed that no child marriages have occurred in the quarter. One child marriage was prevented. The additional deputy commissioner was instructed to raise more awareness about the ill effects of child marriage.The meeting was attended by officials from the departments of health, police, labour, education, child development project officers, District Legal Services Authority and heads of voluntary organisations.
