New Delhi: Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) will soon kick start a special pilot project to train anganwadi workers of malnutrition-hit Vidisha district of Madhya Pradesh.

The programme includes community health infant care, innovative ways to combat malnutrition, nutrition during pregnancy, special needs of adolescent girls, anemia, special issues of women empowerment, violence against women, immunization and water purification. Moreover, around 1,000 anganwadi workers will also trained under the programme.

According to Vice-Chancellor, IGNOU, Mr. V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai, "UNICEF has agreed to finance the project and give all the mandatory technical support. Vidisha as a district has been selected in view of high incidence of malnutrition. This project is likely to take shape in 30 districts of the state".

A tripartite MoU has been signed among IGNOU, UNICEF and state department of women and child development. This MoU is aimed at imparting continuous training to improve skills of field level functionaries.

Furthermore, a project cell will be placed to monitor and coordinate different activities at the Bhopal Regional Centre of IGNOU.