Bihar government has formally launched a scheme to provide uniforms stitched by Jeevika Didis to children enrolled at Anganwadi centres
By Neeraj Kumar
Patna: Bihar government has formally launched a scheme to provide uniforms stitched by Jeevika Didis to children enrolled at Anganwadi centres. The initiative was jointly inaugurated by Rural Development Minister Shravan Kumar and Social Welfare Minister Madan Sahni.
Addressing the programme held at the Dashrath Manjhi Labour and Employment Studies Institute auditorium in city, Shravan Kumar announced that a similar initiative would now be taken up for children studying in Classes 1 to 5 in government primary schools. He said the proposal would be finalised in coordination with the Education Department and directed the Principal Secretary of the Rural Development Department to convene a high-level meeting at the earliest.
During the event, the two ministers distributed one pair of uniforms each to Anganwadi children, who were seen visibly delighted on receiving them. Shravan Kumar said that uniforms for nearly 50 lakh children had already been prepared through Jeevika women, and these would be supplied to all Anganwadi centres by March. Under the scheme, each child is entitled to two sets of uniforms annually.
He further stated that under the recently implemented self-employment promotion scheme, financial assistance of Rs 10,000 each had been provided to 1.54 crore Jeevika group members. Women who have purchased sewing machines are being organised into groups and linked with uniform production. At present, around one lakh women are engaged in this work through 1,050 stitching centres, a number expected to rise to more than five lakh in the coming period. This, he said, would strengthen Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s resolve towards large-scale employment generation.
Social Welfare Minister Madan Sahni said that children at Anganwadi centres are being provided eggs twice a week and milk daily. He added that uniforms would bring a sense of uniformity among children and appealed to Anganwadi workers and helpers to pay special attention to childcare.
Rural Development Department Principal Secretary Pankaj Kumar said that supplying materials through Jeevika would not only ensure quality but also promote entrepreneurship and employment in rural areas. Social Welfare Department Secretary Bandana Preyasi informed that uniforms would be distributed to all Anganwadi children by March. She also said that 490 Anganwadi centres across the state have been converted into Palna Grihas, where children of working women are cared for until 5 pm.
Jeevika Chief Executive Officer Himanshu Sharma said that thousands of women have already gained employment through uniform manufacturing and the scope of the initiative would be expanded further. On the occasion, the Stitch Monitoring System mobile app, related software and a sewing training handbook were also launched.
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