CM Bhupendra Patel presents Appointment letters to more than 9,000 Anganwadi workers and helpers at a ceremony held in Gandhinagar

Gandhinagar, December 2025: Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel presented appointment letters to over 9,000 newly appointed Anganwadi workers and helpers at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar, in the presence of Women and Child Development Minister Dr Manisha Vakil.

In zone-wise appointment letter distribution programs across the state, ministers and officials presented appointment letters, while all participants also viewed the broadcast of the state-level event held in Gandhinagar.

Congratulating the newly appointed Anganwadi workers and helpers, the Chief Minister stated that an Anganwadi is the first step in a child’s development and underscored that the crucial responsibility of nurturing the nation’s future children lies with the Anganwadi sisters.

They encouraged the newly appointed Anganwadi women to seize this opportunity to contribute to a prosperous India through a Viksit Gujarat. He urged them to nurture a healthy generation for Viksit Bharat @ 2047.

Chief Minister further said that to realise Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of nation-building through women’s empowerment, the state government is dedicated to ensuring the nutrition and health of mothers, along with the nutrition, health, and early education of young children.

Chief Minister said that Anganwadi workers and helpers, entrusted with nurturing a child’s mind and shaping them into responsible future citizens, care for and guide children in the manner of Mata Yashoda.

CM further noted that the Prime Minister has honoured these women as Mata Yashoda and has designated Anganwadi centres as Nand Ghars.

Shri Bhupendra Patel stated that, with a vision to modernise the old child-care setups in houses, panchayat halls, and temples, Shri Narendra Modi has facilitated the establishment of fully equipped Anganwadi–Nand Ghars across Gujarat. As a result, more than 53,000 Anganwadi centres are now operational in the state.

At the event, the Chief Minister also shared insights about the e-inauguration and foundation-laying of more than 170 new Anganwadi centres and outlined the state government’s plan to set up over 10,000 additional Nand Ghars in the coming years.

Chief Minister said that, inspired by the Prime Minister, the state government has consistently prioritised the nutrition of women and children. For tribal-area children, schemes like the Doodh Sanjeevani Yojana, providing fortified flavoured milk, and the Poshan Sudha Yojana, offering protein-rich food to pregnant women, have been implemented. Furthermore, welfare initiatives such as Take Home Ration and Mukhyamantri Matrushakti are operational. Additionally, the Mukhyamantri Paushtik Alpahar Yojana has been launched to benefit over 41 lakh children from Anganwadis to primary schools.

On this occasion, Women and Child Development Minister Dr Manisha Vakil congratulated all newly appointed Anganwadi sisters, stating that from today, they are not merely joining government service but are joining a mission to empower the future of children. She highlighted that they will be the first teachers of children, the future citizens, and that the values, education, and nutrition they sow today will nurture the Gujarat of tomorrow.

The minister said that today is a historic and proud day for Gujarat. The newly appointed women have gained employment within their own communities, becoming Atmanirbhar. These women will script a new chapter in women’s empowerment in the state. She emphasised that the appointment letters they receive are not merely letters of appointment, but documents entrusting them with the vital responsibility of nourishing and educating children.

The minister further said that Anganwadi centres are the cornerstone of community building. Anganwadi workers provide children with care, nutrition, and early education, much like a mother’s protection. The Anganwadi system ensures that every government scheme and message reaches the intended beneficiaries effectively. She emphasised that it is the responsibility of all workers to ensure that the state’s nutrition-focused programs reach children properly. The Minister was confident that each of them would play a key role in building a well-nourished Gujarat through empowered mothers and healthy children.

Furthermore, newly appointed Anganwadi workers and helpers from the Rajkot, Surat, and Vadodara zones were presented their appointment letters at the district level by ministers and other dignitaries.

On this occasion, Women and Child Development Minister Dr Manisha Vakil visited various stalls at Mahatma Mandir, including those highlighting nutrition services, Pa Pa Pagli – pre-primary education, digital initiatives, and Poshan Sangam, and gathered insights.

Shri Rakesh Shankar, Secretary of the Women and Child Development Department, in his address, provided a comprehensive overview of the program. He highlighted the state government’s ongoing initiatives, undertaken with strong commitment, to promote the health, nutrition, welfare, and education of pregnant women, lactating mothers, and children in Gujarat. He also congratulated the newly appointed Anganwadi women and encouraged them to work with complete dedication for the nation’s future. During the conclusion of the program, ICDS Commissioner Dr Ranjit Kumar Singh delivered the vote of thanks.

Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation Mayor Smt Mira Patel, District Panchayat President Shri Shilpa Patel, MLA Smt Rita Patel, Chief Secretary Shri M.K. Das, along with a large number of Anganwadi workers and helpers, were present for the occasion.Source: Information Department, Gujarat