In view of the scorching heat and heat wave, the timings of Anganwadi centers in the state have been changed. Now these centers will open from 7 to 11 am, while the presence of children will be limited to 7 to 9 pm, to ensure their safety.
Raipur. Keeping in mind the continuously increasing scorching heat and heat waves in the state, the Women and Child Development Department has taken an important decision for the safety of children. The department has changed the operating timings of Anganwadi centers during summers, so that small children can be protected from the heat.
Operating hours reduced on the instructions of Minister Lakshmi Rajwade
As per the instructions of Women and Child Development Minister Smt. Lakshmi Rajwade, the timing of Anganwadi centers has been reduced from 6 hours to 4 hours. This decision has been taken completely giving priority to the health and safety of children.
New timetable: Applicable from April to June
According to the instructions, from April 01, 2026 to June 30, 2026, all Anganwadi centers will operate from 7:00 am to 11:00 am. At the same time, between 23 April to 30 June 2026, the attendance time of children has been kept only from 7:00 am to 9:00 am, so that they can be safe from the effects of extreme heat and heat wave.
ECCE activities and nutrition will continue
Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) activities for children will continue as before during the scheduled time. Besides, distribution of supplementary nutritional food will also be done regularly. The department has made it clear that no reduction in the quality of services will be allowed.
Other services and work will continue
Other essential services in Anganwadi centers will continue till 11:00 am. During this period, Anganwadi workers and assistants will complete their assigned tasks. Additionally, the process of providing nutritional counseling to mothers through home visits will be strengthened. After the center is closed, the workers will go door-to-door to spread awareness.
Strict instructions regarding the safety of children
The department has adopted a strict stance regarding the safety of children. Instructions have been given to ensure the responsibility of sending children home safely amid the scorching heat. Responsibility will be fixed for any kind of negligence.
District level monitoring and review
All district officers have been instructed to continuously monitor these arrangements. Also, regular reviews will be done in district level meetings to ensure that all the instructions are being implemented properly.
Normal time again from 1st July
After the end of summer, Anganwadi centers will operate at their normal timings i.e. 9:30 am to 3:30 pm (6 hours) from July 1.