LAGATAR24 NETWORK
Dhanbad, May 23: In the wake of the heat wave prevailing in the state, the Jharkhand State Non–Gazetted Employees Federation has demanded re- starting of summer vacation for Anganwadi Kendra children across the state.
Federation’s state general secretary Ashok Kumar Singh ‘Nayan’ today shot off a letter to the Minister of Women, Child Development and Social Security department to start the summer vacation again at Anganwadi Kendra run under the Integrated Child Development project keeping the safety of children in mind in the present scenario of the heat wave.
“Senior students of schools and colleges in the state are being given one-month summer vacation. But it has been stopped to the children between 3 to 6 years who go to Anganwadi Kendra for last two years,” said Ashok Kumar Singh ‘Nayan’ in his letter to the state government.
The Federation’s general secretary said that in 2018 the then principal secretary of health had started giving 30 days of summer vacation ( May 16 to June 14) at Anganwadi centres across the state keeping the health of children in mind. It was continued in 2019. But after Covid-19, the department did not give in 2022 and this time (2023).
It is a million-dollar question that when senior students of the state are being relaxed from severe heat wave under summer vacation while Anganwadi children between the age group of 3 to 6 years are being denied it,” said Nayan.
The Federation general secretary has also attached the 2018 notification of the then principal secretary of health issued regarding the summer vacation of Anganwadi Kendra children.
“Before any untoward incident happens with children of Anganwadi Kendra due to heat wave, the government should initiate pre-empt step by restarting summer vacation for them,” said Nayan in his letter.