Andhra Pradesh Govt. Prevented 780 Child Marriages, Says Minister Sandhyarani
Vijayawada: The TDP-led NDA alliance government has prevented 780 child marriages in special drives organised from July 2024 onwards, women, child and tribal welfare Minister Gummidi Sandhyarani has underlined.
Reviewing the officials functioning of the women, child and tribal welfare departments on Wednesday, she pointed out that monitoring committees have been established to prohibit childhood marriages. The special drives similarly rescued 371 children from child labour and begging.
The review meeting focused on achievements of the coalition government in AP since taking over power in June 2024.
Sandhyarani highlighted several accomplishments. She underlined that Rs 52.68 crore have been allocated for constructing toilets in 9,246 Anganwadi centres (AWCs) and creating drinking water facilities at 11,403 buildings. Letters have been sent to CMDs of DISCOMs for providing electric connections to 7,387 AWCs. Rs 40.54 crore have been released to improve facilities at 8,853 Anganwadi centres, such as nutrition gardens, rainwater harvesting, RO water purifiers, play equipment and LED screens.
The minister said 80,194 growth monitoring devices worth Rs 10.18 crore have been procured to track children's nutritional status. Under the National Efficient Cooking Programme (NECP), the AP cabinet has approved supply of efficient induction stoves and cookware for 11,000 AWCs through EESL (Energy Efficiency Services Limited).
Rs 4.76 crore have been released for procuring 34,66,790 Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) books, aimed at enhancing literacy and numeracy skills among children aged between 3–6 years.
Sandhyarani said 139 new AWCs have been launched under PM JANMAN (Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan) to improve living conditions of vulnerable tribal groups in districts like Alluri Sitarama Raju, Eluru, Manyam and Srikakulam. Total 5,98,632 community-based events have been organised at all Anganwadi centres to monitor children's growth.
For anaemia prevention, nutritional supplements like moringa and curry leaf powders have been supplied to all AWCs and beneficiaries’ homes.
The minister mentioned that Rs 6.14 crore has been allocated for providing relief and rehabilitation to 1,296 victims of violence.
Secretary (Women’s Development and Child Welfare) A. Surya Kumari and director M. Venugopal Reddy were among the officials who participated in the meeting.
