Supreme Court agrees to hear PIL seeking reopening of 14 lakh Anganwadi centres

Today the Supreme Court granted to investigate the issues of closure of 14 lakh Aanganwadi Centers across the country during the lockdown. In fact, it has been claimed in a PIL that due to this, other problems including starvation of children have arisen, after which the apex court has issued a notice to all the states including the Centre.

The Bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan, R Subhash Reddy and MR Shah approved to hear the petition and wanted an answer from the Centre as well as the states. Notice was also hand out to the office of the Solicitor General for India

This petition has been filed on behalf of Deepika Jagataram Sahni of Maharashtra. The petitioner’s counsel Colin Gonsalves told the court that nutrition, education, health services are provided to Anganwadis, and about 14 lakh, Anganwadis have been closed.

It has affected breastfeeding mothers and pregnant women who are also beneficiaries. The petitioners want the Anganwadis to be reopened. In this regard, the court has given notice to the Centre and the states, agreeing to investigate these issues.

Due to the lockdown, the condition of Anganwadi centres across the country has become absolutely bad. The system of nutritional food has come to a standstill. These centers were closed in lockdown, but no steps have been taken to maintain their arrangements, nor have further corrections been taken.

The health of Anganwadi centres and Asha workers is even worse. They have to fight for hard work even after hard work. However, he has worked fiercely in the pandemic but still there is no change in his position. In July, Asha workers protested in many places across the country and refused to work under Covid-19.

By Priya Kumari