Lucknow: Under the able guidance of Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA) is playing a vital role in transforming rural India through the construction of modern, well-equipped Anganwadi Centres. This innovative MGNREGA convergence initiative is ensuring that villages now boast safe, beautiful, and functional spaces for early childhood care — a remarkable shift from the days of limited resources.
The newly built Anganwadi Centres have become symbols of hope and progress, providing children with a secure and nurturing environment. Beyond improving child development infrastructure, the programme also exemplifies grassroots success, as these structures are built through local labour participation, ensuring employment opportunities and economic support to rural families during construction.
Through convergence between MGNREGA, the Department of Women and Child Development, and the Panchayati Raj Department, the government has achieved remarkable results over the past three years. From FY 2022–23 to 2025–26, a total of 9,071 Anganwadi Centres have been successfully constructed, with ₹26,122.42 lakh already spent on the initiative.
According to official data:
- In FY 2022–23, 2,330 centres were completed.
- In FY 2023–24, 1,981 centres were built.
- In FY 2024–25, the figure rose to 3,192 centres.
- In the current financial year 2025–26, 1,568 centres have been completed so far.
Additionally, 7,809 Anganwadi Centres are currently under construction, marking continued momentum in rural infrastructure enhancement. For the ongoing financial year, ₹8,687.49 lakh has already been utilized to accelerate development under MGNREGA.
These new centres are being designed with child-friendly play areas and safety considerations — ensuring no centre is located near national highways. The government aims to build Anganwadi Centres across all gram panchayats, ensuring inclusive growth and equal access to early education facilities.
This convergence model of development and employment generation has not only uplifted the rural economy but also laid a strong foundation for the next generation, ensuring that the “future of the village” remains safe, secure, and full of promise.
