No NOC needed to set up Anganwadi Centre on primary school premises: Govt

Bhubaneswar: Reiterating the Government’s decision to set up Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) on the premises of Government Primary Schools, the Women and Child Development Department and School and Mass Education Department today stated no-objection certificate (NOC) is not required from authorities for establishment of the pre-school education centre at the school building.

In a letter to Collectors, the Women and Child Development Department and School and Mass Education Department directed them to instruct the Block Development Officer (BDO) to encourage the construction of AWCs in school premises on priority basis.

In case primary schools have been closed down due to mergers because of the inadequate number of children, the school building could be utilized for the setting up of AWCs.

The Collectors were asked to constitute a committee under the chairpersonship of Sub-Collector with BDO, Tahasildar, CDPO, BEO, and Executive Officer/ AEO of the concerned NAC/ Municipality as members to decide modalities to use these types of primary school as AWCs, the letter read.

The Anganwadi Centres shall be permitted to function in the available extra classroom/ space of the Primary Schools in case of availability of such rooms. However, no Anganwadi Centre should function on the veranda of the school premises, stated the letter adding that the timings can be adjusted in view of the prevailing COVID-19 situation.

“The toilets of school buildings shall be opened and made available for use by the children of the AWC also,” the letter mentioned.

It also asked the Collectors to ensure that the vegetables available in the school’s kitchen garden should be provided to the AWC located on the same premises.