CM launches breakfast scheme for anganwadi children

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy launched a breakfast scheme titled, Tholi Mudda, for anganwadi children at a programme held on the Assembly premises.

Ministers Seethakka and Konda Surekha, Food Corporation Chairman Faheem, Child Welfare Commission Chairman Seetha Dayakar Reddy and senior officials were present on the occasion.

Under the scheme, the government will provide ready-to-cook breakfast items such as upma and khichdi mix to children attending anganwadi centres.

The Chief Minister also distributed mobile phones to anganwadi workers during the event to strengthen service delivery and monitoring.

Addressing the gathering, Mr. Revanth Reddy said the launch of the breakfast scheme has a meaningful background. He recalled that in the early years after Independence, the country’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru prioritised education and irrigation to tackle illiteracy and boost agricultural growth.

“Today, while the country has achieved food security, nutritional security remains a challenge,” he observed. He said the State government is already providing nutritious food to pregnant women from the time the child is in the womb, and the introduction of the breakfast scheme is another step in strengthening child nutrition.

The Chief Minister emphasised that however well the government designs welfare programmes, their success ultimately depends on anganwadi teachers and staff.

“We have placed a great responsibility on you. Treat anganwadi children as your own and ensure they receive nutritious food,” he said.

Highlighting the importance of early childhood nutrition, Mr. Revanth Reddy said mental development is significantly influenced by adequate nutrition in the first six years of life.

“Many long-term health problems arise from lack of proper nutrition in early childhood. To prevent such situations, the government has introduced schemes like this,” he said.