Maneka Gandhi reveals plan to modernise anganwadis

Union minister of women and child development on Monday revealed plans of modernising anganwadis. Speaking at a informal gathering of journos, Gandhi said that she is keen on modernising anganwadis. Some of the ideas she is considering are using anganwadi walls as advertising space, get machines to make anganwadi food, and even hand out the responsibility of clean and safe food to NGOs or other such third parties.

Gandhi said that some of her ideas have come from the journalists that cover the WCD ministry. "One such idea is of using the walls of anganwadis for adverts. This will help earn revenue," she said. She added that the idea is just a thought at the moment.

Speaking further on her ideas to spruce up anganwadis, Gandhi said that she was also thinking of a food system similar to cup noodles, and was hoping that a viable solution comes her way soon.

"The ministry is open to having respectable NGOs providing the food if that is feasible," she said, adding that even organisations like Baba Ramdev's can help provide food like this. She added that she is not too keen on eggs in schools that do not have a fridge. "A lot of food contamination happen due to spoilt eggs," she said.

Gandhi also said that she has written to the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to include more than one bogey for women in metro trains. "The trains are very crowded, and with the women's bogey being the first in a train, it is a bit difficult for them," she said. She said that she has written to ask for three bogies in longer trains and two in smaller ones. "Another scheme I really want to see take off is free bus passes for women over 60," she said.