Gujarat Government Increases Anganwadi Meal Budget by 67%, Introduces Whole Moong to Menu
The Gujarat government has raised the budget for Anganwadi meals by 67%, enhancing nutrition for over 16 lakh children.
Gandhinagar, October 14 (Daily Kiran) : The Gujarat government has announced a significant 67% increase in the daily budget for meals provided to children in Anganwadi centers. The cost per child has risen from ₹5.10 to ₹8.50. This change will incur an additional annual expense of approximately ₹80 crore, aimed at improving the nutritional quality of meals for more than 16.17 lakh children.
The announcement was made by the Department of Women and Child Development on Wednesday. This new arrangement will apply to children aged three to six years under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme, which operates across 53,065 Anganwadi centers in the state.
The increase of ₹3.40 per child per day is designed to enhance meal variety. The focus will be on incorporating dals, whole moong, chickpeas, seasonal green vegetables, and fruits into the menu.
Under the revised structure, the existing contribution from the central and state governments will remain equal at ₹5.10 per beneficiary per day. The Gujarat government will cover the additional ₹3.40, bringing the total meal budget to ₹8.50 per child daily. This adjustment is expected to add a financial burden of around ₹80 crore annually on the state.
The new rates will also allow for increased funding for the local procurement of ingredients necessary for preparing meals in Anganwadi centers.
According to the department’s proposal, the daily budget includes specific allocations: ₹1.24 for tuar dal, 85 paise for whole chickpeas, ₹1.30 for whole moong, 52.5 paise for jaggery, 83 paise for seasonal green vegetables, and ₹2 for fruits. Additional provisions include 65 paise for peanuts or sesame, 60 paise for spices, and 50 paise for local transportation.
The weekly hot meal menu will now feature whole moong. Children will receive a hot breakfast at 11 AM and a hot meal at 1:30 PM. The menu will include boiled or sprouted moong, thick tuar dal, vegetable pulao, green vegetable muthia, spicy chickpeas, rice with moong and vegetables, and seasonal fruits.
Other dishes such as sheera, sukhdi, lauki dhokla, jaggery pudla, bhakri, dhokla, and idli will also be served.
The Women and Child Development Department emphasized that the revised system will not only provide more financial support for meals but will also diversify the menu. Additionally, efforts will be made to strengthen local procurement of food materials.
Officials noted that this decision was made under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and the guidance of Women and Child Development Minister Manisha Vakil. A detailed report on the quantity and cost of materials needed for meal preparation has also been released.
With the new rates, the amount available for each child’s daily meal will increase, while the existing cost-sharing arrangement between the central and state governments will remain unchanged. The Gujarat government will fully bear the additional costs, ensuring that there is no increase in the current financial contribution from the central government.
