Over 600 Anganwadi Centres in Operate from Temporary Buildings

Shillong, India Aug 25, 2026 ALN: Shillong: has a total of 6,188 Anganwadi centres, out of which 666 are currently operating from rented or temporary buildings, as disclosed by Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma during an Assembly session on Tuesday.

Sangma noted that the majority, 5,522 Anganwadi centres, are situated in buildings owned by either the government or the community. To address the issue, the government is focusing on the construction and upgrading of Anganwadi centres in collaboration with the Community and Rural Development (CNRD) department and under the Early Childhood Development Mission.

In response to a supplementary question from TMC MLA Dr. Mizanur Kazi, Sangma provided specific details about Selsella, which has 299 Anganwadi centres, of which 211 are owned and 27 operate from rented buildings.

The Chief Minister also highlighted that water supply is available in 1,371 of the state's Anganwadi centres, while only 561 have toilet facilities.

Regarding kitchen facilities, Sangma mentioned that the government does not have comprehensive details on whether each centre has a separate kitchen. However, he assured that all centres providing hot cooked meals have designated spaces for food preparation.

Under the Anganwadi Services Supplementary Nutrition Programme, supplementary nutrition is provided for 25 days a month, which includes hot cooked meals for children aged three to six years and take-home rations for children aged six months to three years, as well as for pregnant and nursing mothers and adolescents.

Additionally, Sangma announced plans to expand the hot cooked meal programme, aiming to provide meals twice a week along with eggs.

Progress on Anganwadi Buildings

The Chief Minister clarified that the 666 rented or temporary centres are distinct from the 2,148 centres currently undergoing construction or renovation. Of these, 1,670 buildings have already been completed.

Sangma reported that ₹64 crore has been spent on the project thus far, with an additional ₹83 crore sanctioned for the remaining work. This initiative is being implemented through a partnership between an externally aided early childhood development project and MGNREGS.

He acknowledged the challenges in constructing permanent buildings for the 666 rented or temporary centres, primarily due to a lack of available land, especially in urban areas.

Monitoring Nutrition Supply

In response to concerns raised by Kazi regarding the quality and timely supply of nutrition to children, Sangma assured that regular checks are conducted by the department to monitor the quality and distribution of nutrition. He acknowledged that issues may arise given the extensive network of 6,188 centres, but emphasized that corrective actions would be taken whenever specific problems are reported to the government.

Decline in Child Stunting

Discussing the implementation of Poshan Abhiyan and Saksham Anganwadi, Sangma cited data from the National Family Health Survey indicating a decline in child stunting rates. The percentage of stunted children under five years has decreased from 46.5% to approximately 36% over the past three years.

The government has also introduced the Thousand Days Programme, which tracks a child's health from conception until the age of two, providing necessary interventions at various stages.

Sangma expressed the government's commitment to further reduce stunting and malnutrition levels, aiming to bring them below the national average.

Addressing Maternal Anaemia

Leader of Opposition and former Chief Minister Dr. Mukul Sangma raised concerns about high levels of anaemia among pregnant women, particularly in East Garo Hills. He reported that over 70% of mothers admitted to hospitals in the region were anaemic, with some having dangerously low haemoglobin levels.

In response, Sangma stated that the government has implemented an online tracking system for pregnant women, identifying those classified as high-risk. He noted that around 10-15% of pregnant women are considered high-risk at any given time, with anaemia being a significant factor.

The government provides additional nutritional and medical interventions to high-risk mothers and facilitates their stay in safe motherhood houses or transit homes before delivery. Sangma agreed to conduct a special study on maternal health in East Garo Hills, emphasizing that the district would receive focused attention.

He concluded by mentioning that the maternal mortality rate in the state has declined by 55%, marking the highest reduction in the country.