Metro India News | Hyderabad 

In a novel move to enhance child nutrition and attract more children to Anganwadi centres, the Telangana Government has introduced Egg Biryani in the weekly meal plans. Women and Child Welfare Minister Seethakka, addressing the Medho Madana Sadassu 2025 held at the Telangana State Institute of Rural Development (TSIRD), Rajendranagar, announced that Egg Biryani will be served once or twice a week in Anganwadi centres to make meals both nutritious and enjoyable. This is part of a larger strategy to tackle malnutrition and ensure holistic development of children through a play-school-like environment.

Minister Seethakka said the initiative is aimed at making Anganwadi centres more attractive to children and reducing the burden on parents by providing quality meals, engaging teaching material, and recreational facilities. She stressed that the menu will be further diversified and instructed that eggs be served hygienically – boiled, cut into two pieces to ensure quality and safety.

Biryani, Bells, and Benches

During the Sadassu, the Minister inspected various stalls showcasing innovative teaching tools, play materials, nutritious food items, and region-specific tribal delicacies. She also visited stalls by TG Foods, Vijaya Milk Centre, and tribal welfare departments, and sampled snacks and Balamrutam. She instructed that Balamrutam be provided in boxes instead of packets for better usability.

To bring more structure and excitement into daily routines, she proposed introducing school-like bells in Anganwadis, which will improve discipline and punctuality. Teaching staff were urged to take up the "Ammamata – Anganwadi Bata" campaign to boost enrolments and increase public awareness of services provided. “Our centres should rival private playschools in quality while easing parents’ financial burden,” she said.

She announced that 14,000 vacant posts will be filled soon to reduce workload, and monthly salaries will be paid via a green channel, similar to the Panchayat Raj staff. Mini Anganwadi teachers have already received promotions and retirement benefits have been doubled.

She also assured that modern smartphones will be provided to Anganwadi teachers to aid monitoring and teaching activities. To address ground-level challenges, benches will be supplied so that pregnant and lactating women do not have to sit on the floor.

The Minister reiterated the commitment to inclusivity, mentioning initiatives like appointing transgender persons as traffic assistants, issuing Aadhaar cards to orphaned children, and spending Rs 50 crore annually on assistive devices for persons with disabilities. Through the Indiramma Amrutam scheme, nutritious supplements are being provided to adolescent girls, and stringent steps are being taken to prevent child marriages.