- A new chapter in the nutrition, protection and all-round development of children
- Chhattisgarh ranks first at the national level in the Nutrition Fortnight
- Dr. Daneshwari Sambhakar
- Deputy, Director
The true progress of any state is measured by the health, education, and safety of its children. Building on this vision, Chhattisgarh has made the all-round development of children a top government priority. Under the visionary policies of Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Dev Sai and the active leadership of Women and Child Development Minister Smt. Laxmi Rajwade, the state has achieved remarkable achievements in the areas of child nutrition, protection, and future building. The effective implementation of ICDS, Mission Vatsalya, Poshan Abhiyaan, and the Child Marriage Free Chhattisgarh Campaign has given the state a new identity in the field of child development.
- Anganwadi centers are becoming modern centers of child development.
The work of making 11,490 Anganwadi centers in the state efficient and attractive is progressing rapidly. Modern facilities such as Building as Learning Aid (BaLA), painting, nutrition gardens, play and learning-based activities are being developed in these centers, so that children can learn and develop in a joyful environment.
Approval has been given for the construction of 2,337 new Anganwadi buildings through MNREGA convergence. Meanwhile, 191 new Anganwadi centers have been operationalized under the PM Janman Yojana. Under Niyada Nella Naar 2.0, 12,964 Anganwadi centers in 10 districts are providing services to children.
Significant progress has also been made in strengthening human resources. The number of Anganwadi workers has increased from 51,045 to 52,258, and the number of helpers has increased from 44,826 to 51,548, improving both the reach and quality of services.
- Effective action against malnutrition
Chhattisgarh has achieved remarkable success in reducing malnutrition among children. According to the data of the Nutrition Tracker App, a 7.82 percent reduction in stunting, 4.36 percent reduction in weight, and 2.76 percent reduction in underweight has been recorded among children aged 0-5 years. While the rate of stunting was 30.27 percent in December 2023, it has reduced to 22.45 percent by June 2026. This achievement is the result of nutrition management, regular monitoring, community participation and effective operation of Anganwadi based services.
- National level excellent performance in nutrition campaign
Chhattisgarh performed exceptionally well across the country during National Nutrition Month and Nutrition Fortnight. In the fiscal year 2024-25, Chhattisgarh ranked first in activities per Anganwadi. Chhattisgarh also ranked first nationally during the April 2025 Nutrition Fortnight.
During the Nutrition Month of September-October 2025, 71,887 activities were organized in the state, and during the Nutrition Fortnight of April 2026, 3,493,474 activities were organized. Additionally, important initiatives have been initiated to establish ready-to-eat units to provide nutritious food at the local level.
- Mission Vatsalya provides security and support to children
Mission Vatsalya has emerged as an effective protective shield for orphaned, abandoned, and children in need of special protection. The number of child care institutions in the state has increased to 109.
Hundreds of children have benefited from education, care, and rehabilitation through the Chief Minister’s Child Uday Yojana. Thousands of cases were resolved by promptly responding to the 165,979 calls received at the Child Helpline.
The impact of the expansion of child protection services is also evident in adoption and sponsorship programs. Adoption has increased from 42 to 234 children, and sponsorship has increased from 767 to 2,037 children. This increase reflects the state government’s commitment to providing children with a family environment and a better future.
- Strong step towards child marriage free Chhattisgarh
The Child Marriage Free Chhattisgarh campaign, launched by the state government, has renewed both social awareness and administrative activism. The number of Child Marriage Prevention Officers has increased to 1,382. As a result, the number of child marriages prevented has risen from 109 to 888. This transformation is not just an administrative achievement, but also signals a significant social shift toward ensuring the education, health, and respectable future of daughters.
- A strong foundation for the future
These efforts, led by Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Dev Sai and Women and Child Development Minister Smt. Laxmi Rajwade, are leading millions of children of Chhattisgarh towards a healthy, safe, educated and empowered future.
Multi-pronged efforts like modern Anganwadi system, nutrition improvement, expansion of child protection services and elimination of child marriage have established Chhattisgarh as an inspirational and model state in the field of child development.
Empowered childhood is the strongest foundation of a developed Chhattisgarh and the state government is continuously moving forward with the resolve to make that foundation even stronger.
