Guwahati: The Directorate of Women and Child Development, Government of Assam, and ITC Limited have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to significantly strengthen early childhood care, education, development, and nutrition across 11 districts in the state.
The agreement, signed on April 2, aims to improve the well-being of young children in both aspirational and developed districts of Assam.
The partnership will focus on seven aspirational districts – Hailakandi, Goalpara, Dhubri, Barpeta, Baksa, Udalguri, and Darrang – alongside Nalbari, Morigaon, Kamrup Metro, and Kamrup districts.
The initiative will provide cascading training to Anganwadi Workers on home-based responsive care giving practices and strengthen play-based learning, aligning with the National Framework for children from birth to six years.
This training will directly benefit approximately 14 lakh women and children.
Speaking at the occasion, Gauri Sankar Sarmah, Director of the Women and Child Development department, emphasized integration of the public and private sectors to fight against malnutrition and to strengthen all-around development of the children under five years.
He also expressed gratitude to ITC Limited for extending continuous support to the Women and Child Development Department in their programs of nutrition, early childhood care, education, and development.
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Other notable dignitaries who attended the event included Satyajyoti Barua, Additional Director, Department of Women & Child Development; Keshav Chadda, Factory Manager ICML Kamrup ITC Limited; Dipti Phukan, Joint Director in Department of Women & Child Development; Smritirekha Dutta Borah, Joint Director in Department of Women and Child Development; Ujjawal Sinha, Senior Program Manager ITC Limited and Kunjalata Lachon, Deputy Director in WCD Department.
Senior officials of the Directorate of Women & Child Development and representatives of ITC Limited, YouthInvest Foundation, and Vikramshila also attended the event.
