Kolkata: The West Bengal government is partnering with Asian Development Bank (ADB) to upgrade 50,000 ICDS centers in the state.
The state currently has 1.9 lakh ICDS centers manned by 2 lakh anganwadi workers.
The government has recently hiked the allowance of these anganwadi workers by Rs 1000.
The total project cost is Rs 2148 crore with ADB funding to the tune of Rs 1503.6 crore. The state exchequer will contribute the remaining Rs 644.4 crore.
This initiative will help ICDS facilities and create a better environment for pre-school children who attend these centers for food and nutrition.
The project will also have capacity building programs for workers and supervisors to improve professionalism.
According to Finance Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya the ICDS lacked sufficient central funds though being a central scheme.
The West Bengal government has therefore stepped in to modernize the facilities.
The government will begin processing the project within a month and complete it within a 5 year timeline.
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