Srinagar: Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Wednesday launched a QR code-based system for Anganwadi Centres across Jammu and Kashmir to improve transparency, digital governance and public access to information under Mission POSHAN.
The initiative was launched during a review meeting of the Social Welfare Department’s Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme.
Officials said every Anganwadi Centre in the Union Territory has been assigned a unique QR code, allowing citizens to access information on Anganwadi workers, beneficiaries, supplementary nutrition, services, infrastructure, government schemes and activities being conducted at the centres.
Chief Secretary Dulloo said technology should be used to improve grassroots service delivery and citizen engagement. He directed the Social Welfare Department to work with BISAG-N to integrate APAAR records of the School Education Department, Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) records and the U-WIN immunisation platform with the QR code-based system to create a comprehensive digital profile for every child.
He said the integration would enable seamless tracking of children’s education, health and immunisation records while improving coordination among departments.
Dulloo also asked the department to study play-based learning models developed by reputed institutions and explore their adaptation for children in Jammu and Kashmir to strengthen early childhood education.
During the meeting, Commissioner Secretary, Social Welfare Department, Sarmad Hafeez, said the QR code initiative had been developed in collaboration with BISAG and the Information Technology Department to improve transparency and public participation.
Managing Director, Mission POSHAN, Sajad Hussain Ganai, briefed the meeting on initiatives to strengthen ECCE through digital integration, infrastructure development, capacity building of frontline workers, community participation and convergence of health, nutrition and education services.
The meeting was informed that all beneficiaries had been enrolled under Aadhaar, while ABHA and APAAR IDs had been generated. All Anganwadi Centres have also been mapped on the Gati Shakti Portal, and an Anganwadi Tracking Application has been developed.
Officials said Anganwadi Centres were being co-located with schools to facilitate smooth transition to formal education, while centres were being upgraded under the Saksham Anganwadi Programme and Bal Vidyalaya Scheme. Programmes such as Navchetana for children aged 0-3 years and the Aadharshila curriculum for children aged 3-6 years are also being implemented to promote early childhood development and school readiness.
The Chief Secretary also reviewed delivery of health and nutrition services through Village Health Sanitation and Nutrition Days (VHSNDs) and called for greater coordination among departments to transform Anganwadi Centres into hubs for early learning, nutrition, health and community engagement.
