Officials from department of social welfare led by director, T. Merangtsungba Aier are on a three-day tour programme in Mokokchung district so as to sensitize the public on various welfare schemes and activities of the department.
The tour aims to create greater awareness on schemes and activities being undertaken by the department of social welfare for the welfare of 0-6 years, pregnant and lactating mothers in the state.
In Mokokchung town, the programme was held at town Hall for the ICDS blocks of Ongpangkong North & South and Kopulong where field officers, Angangwati Workers, village council members, leaders from wards in the towns and the public attended the programme. T.
Merang Aier who was the main speaker at the programme said that the main objective of the department is to improve health and nutritional status of children belonging to 0-6 years, pregnant and lactating mothers by extending supplementary nutrition, immunization, referral services and health care services to these targeted groups in the state.
He said one of the concern areas of the department is to help children to prepare for formal school education by providing pre-school education at all Anganwati centres. Merang Aier said pre-school education at Angangwati centres is the back bone of Integrated Child Development Scheme of the department.
The director also appealed to village council members, ward leaders in the town and the public to extend their cooperation towards Angangwati workers as they are responsible for healthy growth of a child besides tackling malnutrition.
He also said that the department has sent proposal for establishment of two more ICDS for Tuli and Tsurangkong which, he said is expected to materialize soon. There are 347 Angangwati centres in Mokokchung district and efforts are on to set up more centres to strengthen the scheme in the district. The programme was chaired by Bendangkokba, District Welfare Officer, Mokokchung.
On January 19, the officials held similar programme at Tuli town for the ICDS block Changtongya. For Mangkolemba and Longcxhem Blocks sensitization programme will be held at Mangkolemba on January 21.
The director is accompanied by joint director, Tulula and State Programme Officer (SPO) E. Yarenthung.