Agartala, January 7 (TIWN): Altogether 9 Anganwadi staffs, 9 associates, 4 supervisors and 4 Integrated Child Development Services projects have received best awards for the year 2013-14 at Muktadhara Auditorium here today. The award distribution ceremony was organized with the initiative of Social Welfare and Social Education Department.

Social Welfare and Social Education Minister Bijita Nath inaugurated the programme while Chief Secretary G.K. Rao and Chairperson of Tripura Commission for Women (TCW)- Purnima Roy graced the dais as guests of honour. The programme was presided over by the Secretary of Social Welfare and Social Education Department- M. Nagaraju.

The best four Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) programmes are- Kathalia project, Salema, Julaibari and Kadamtala project. A total of four Anganwadi supervisors including Karim Uddin Chowdhury of Boxanagar project from Sepahijala district, Alok Majumder of Manu project from Dhalai district, Badal Roy of Amarpur Municipal Council project from Gomati district and Vagya Debbarma of Ampi project from Gomati district would receive the award as best supervisors of 2013-14.

Among the Anganwadi staffs; Chabina Yasmin of Rahimpur Dakshinpara-2 centre under Boxonagar ICDS programme, Sanjibani Jamatia of East Dewanbadi centre under Killa ICDS project, Sampa Roy of Ghoshkhamar centre under Rajnagar ICDS plan, Arati Debbarma of Rabicharan Chowdhury centre under Tulashikar ICDS project, Chinu Shil of Pritilata centre under Udaipur Municipal Council plan, Runu Das of Chandrasadupara centre under Jirania project, Fuilangti Reang of Ultacherra centre under Manu project, Mitrabinda Goswami of Sunamukhi centre under Gournagar project and Shanti Debbarma of Tairajbari centre under Hezamar project received awards as best staffs.

It is worthy to mention here; in order to combat with child hunger and malnutrition, Anganwadi centre was introduced by the Central Government way back in 1975 as part of the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) programme. An Anganwadi centre also provides basic healthcare services in rural villages.