Prayagraj: The Uttar Pradesh government has identified 3,011 anganwadi centres across 39 districts for upgradation into Saksham Anganwadis, as part of an initiative to strengthen early childhood care, education and nutrition services.
The proposed upgradation aims to equip anganwadi centres with better infrastructure, digital learning facilities, safe drinking water systems and nutrition gardens. The objective is to make these centres more conducive to children’s physical, mental and intellectual development.
The initiative is being implemented under the Centre’s Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, which focuses on improving nutrition delivery and early childhood care and education.
416 Centres Identified in Prayagraj Division
Of the 3,011 centres identified across Uttar Pradesh, 416 are located in the Prayagraj division.
The district-wise distribution reported for the division is:
- Prayagraj: 77 anganwadi centres
- Pratapgarh: 339 anganwadi centres
- Total: 416 centres
Director of Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Harshita Mathur (IAS: 2013: UP), has issued directions for establishing the Saksham centres. The identified centres have been shortlisted, and a proposal has been submitted to the Centre for approval.
The state government has earmarked ₹4.16 crore for upgrading the 416 centres in the division, at the rate of ₹1 lakh per centre.
How the ₹1 Lakh Per Centre Will Be Used
The proposed funding will cover five infrastructure and learning components at each selected centre:
- Poshan Vatika – ₹10,000: Development of a nutrition garden to support access to fresh, locally grown produce.
- Rainwater harvesting – ₹16,000: Installation of systems to collect and conserve rainwater.
- RO water purifier – ₹10,000: Provision of water purification facilities.
- LED screen – ₹25,000: Installation of screens to support digital and audio-visual learning.
- BALA paintings – ₹39,000: Educational wall paintings under the Building as Learning Aid concept to make the physical environment more interactive for children.
Together, these components account for the proposed ₹1 lakh allocation per centre.
Play-Based Learning and Early Childhood Development
Children in the three-to-six-year age group will be introduced to foundational learning through play-based activities, digital tools and age-appropriate educational materials.
The centres are intended to provide a more child-friendly learning environment, with facilities designed to support early education alongside nutrition and healthcare services.
Prayagraj District Programme Officer Dinesh Singh said creating an appropriate environment for both care and learning was essential during early childhood. He said the Saksham Anganwadi centres were being designed to address these needs.
The initiative also covers the wider anganwadi beneficiary group, which includes children below six years of age, pregnant women and lactating mothers. Nutrition and health services at these centres are intended to support efforts to address malnutrition and anaemia.
What Is the Saksham Anganwadi Initiative?
Under Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, the Union government aims to strengthen and upgrade two lakh anganwadi centres across the country, at a planned rate of 40,000 centres annually.
The programme envisages improvements such as LED screens, water purifiers, smart learning and audio-visual aids, internet connectivity wherever feasible, and Poshan Vatikas.
The Ministry of Women and Child Development identifies improved nutrition delivery and early childhood care and education as key objectives of the programme.
The proposed upgradation of 3,011 centres in Uttar Pradesh is part of this broader effort to improve anganwadi infrastructure and strengthen services for children and women.
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