Change in Anganwadi operating hours: Children's attendance limited to 7 am to 9 am

Safety of children is paramount, there will be no laxity in implementing the instructions: Women and Child Development Minister Smt. Laxmi Rajwade

Raipur, April 24, 2026/ Taking seriously the increasing impact of the scorching heat and heat wave in the state, Chief Minister Shri Vishnudev Sai has taken a quick and sensitive decision, considering the health and safety of children as paramount.

As per Chief Minister Sai's directives, all Anganwadi centers in the state will operate daily from 7:00 am to 11:00 am until June 30, 2026. During this period, children's attendance is only scheduled from 7:00 am to 9:00 am, to protect them from extreme temperatures and the ill effects of heat waves.

The Chief Minister has clarified that during this period, early childhood care and pre-school informal education (ECCE) activities of children will be conducted as per the prescribed timetable and calendar and distribution of supplementary nutrition will be ensured regularly, so that there is no hindrance in the nutrition and education of children.

As per the instructions, Anganwadi centers will open at 7:00 am, with children attending from 7:00 am to 9:00 am, while other services will continue until 11:00 am. During this time, Anganwadi workers and assistants will perform the remaining tasks according to their job charts.

The Chief Minister has also directed that nutrition counseling services be made more effective through home visits. To this end, Anganwadi workers will go door-to-door after the center closes, following the prescribed procedures, to educate mothers.

Giving strict instructions regarding the safety of children, the Chief Minister said that in the event of heat waves, high temperatures, and heat waves, children should be ensured to be safely transported home. In the event of any negligence, those concerned will be held accountable.

Women and Child Development Minister Smt. Laxmi Rajwade has directed all district officials to ensure continuous monitoring of these arrangements and regularly review the progress in district level review meetings, so that effective implementation of the instructions can be ensured at the ground level. She said that after the end of summer vacation, from 01 July 2026, Anganwadi centers will again operate at their normal time from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm (6 hours