public service delivery in Assam, Minister of Water Resources and Information & Public Relations, Pijush Hazarika, on Saturday distributed smartphones to Anganwadi workers in Morigaon district.
The distribution drive, held at the Puthibharal Auditorium, was organized under the POSHAN Abhiyaan, the Government of India’s flagship programme for improving nutritional outcomes for children, pregnant women, and lactating mothers.
Enabling Real-Time Nutrition Monitoring
The smartphones aim to strengthen field-level data collection, streamline real-time reporting. And improve the delivery of essential health and nutrition services.
Speaking at the event, Minister Hazarika said, “This step will digitally empower our Anganwadi workers, making it easier to monitor the nutritional status of children and women in real time. It aligns with our vision of an efficient and accountable service system.”
Over 500 Anganwadi workers received mobile handsets during the event. These devices come preloaded with nutrition tracking applications that are used for daily data entry, growth monitoring, and scheme reporting.
Strengthening the POSHAN Abhiyaan Framework
The POSHAN Abhiyaan (National Nutrition Mission) seeks to reduce stunting, undernutrition, anaemia, and low birth weight among children. Moreover, it places strong emphasis on technology, convergence, and community involvement.
By equipping workers with smartphones, the government intends to improve efficiency, accountability, and transparency across villages and tribal belts of Morigaon district.
District Social Welfare Officer (DSWO) Kabita Das explained, “The digital tools will not only reduce paperwork but will also help in instant decision-making based on real-time data. Furthermore, this is a game-changer for rural nutrition surveillance.”
Improving Services in Rural Assam
Morigaon, a district with sizable rural and tribal populations, has been a priority zone for child and maternal nutrition schemes. Further, local Anganwadi workers have long been the front-liners of service delivery, especially in hard-to-reach areas.
One of the beneficiaries, Anganwadi worker Kalpana Nath, said, “The smartphone will help us maintain accurate child growth records and improve our reporting to the higher authorities without delay.”
She added that earlier, many forms had to be filled manually and were prone to error or delay. With smartphones, she can now instantly upload growth charts, feeding records, and attendance details.
Minister Hazarika Highlights Assam’s Progress
Minister Pijush Hazarika also spoke about the state’s commitment to reducing child malnutrition. He highlighted that Assam has seen measurable progress in recent years due to focused interventions. And also, better inter-departmental coordination.
He lauded the efforts of Anganwadi workers and encouraged them to take full advantage of the digital tools provided. He also promised that more training workshops would be conducted to help workers adapt to the new system.
Future Plans and Community Support
Officials announced that this distribution is part of a broader phase-wise plan to digitally empower all Anganwadi workers across Assam. Also, the government also plans to introduce regular review meetings and app-based monitoring dashboards.
A follow-up training session is scheduled next week at the Morigaon District Collectorate to help workers navigate the new application interfaces.
Local community leaders and women’s groups present at the event appreciated the government’s move. And stressed the need for continued support in terms of training and internet access in remote areas.
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For more information on the National Nutrition Mission, visit POSHAN Abhiyaan official site.
This distribution drive marks a step toward smarter governance, empowering Anganwadi workers, and ensuring that no child is left behind in the fight against malnutrition.
