Union Budget 2022: Two lakh anganwadis to be upgraded, says Nirmala Sitharaman

NEW DELHI: Two lakh anganwadis will be upgraded under the Saksham Anganwadis scheme which aims at new generation anganwadis that have better infrastructure and audio-visual aids for early child development, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Tuesday.

Presenting the Budget for 2022-23, Sitharaman said recognising the importance of 'Nari Shakti' as the harbinger of India's bright future and for women-led development during the 'Amrit Kaal', the government has comprehensively revamped the schemes of the ministry of women and child development.

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Accordingly, Mission Shakti, Mission Vatsalya, Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 were launched recently to provide integrated benefits to women and children. “Saksham Anganwadis are a new generation anganwadis that have better infrastructure and audio-visual aids, powered by clean energy and providing improved environment for early child development. Two lakh anganwadis will be upgraded under the scheme,” she said.

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Meanwhile, the budgetary allocation for the school education sector increased around Rs 9,000 crore. The Union Budget 2022 allocated Rs 63,449.37 crore for the school education sector. Allocation for the school education scheme, Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, also increased by about Rs 6,000 crore compared to the Budget 2021, making the total allocation Rs 37,383.36 crore.