Anganwadi Centers: Transformed into Modern Creches with Nutrition fulfilment

Updated: 9/29/2024
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Last Updated: 10 Mar 2024

Neglected by successive Govts for 75+ years, not AAP Govts

"So far Anganwadi used to be considered to be a centre for providing midday meals and nutrition to children, but now, we want to change that concept. We will turn it into an early childhood learning centre" -CM Kejriwal[1]

The menu has been prepared by the country's Top Nutritionists, meeting nutritional needs of 8 lakh women & children[2]

91.5% Reduction in malnourished children from ~2 Lakh (2014) to just 16,814 (2024)[2:1]

Number of functioning Aanganwadi Centres (AWCs) in Delhi: 10897[3]

1. Infra Boost

Mohalla Playschools[4][5]

These are Anganwadi Hub centres, have been created by clubbing 2-4 existing anganwadis

By combining the resources of participating Anganwadis,following became possible:

  • Renting of bigger area
  • Open space for free play
  • Multiple rooms for age wise segregation of children
  • Combined efforts of Multiple workers and helpers

In the pilot phase, 110 Anganwadi Hubs have been created comprising 390 AWCs

Anganwadi on Wheels[6]

12 October 2021: Manish Sisodia launched this unique initiative

For children who can't come to the Anganwadi centers

  • To provide them nutritious food
  • To fulfil their educational and health-related needs

2. Centralised kitchens[7]

The government operates 11 centralised kitchens, producing meals and Take-Home Ration (THR) for over 8 lakh beneficiaries daily

-- 1 Kitchen in Kondli serves 604 Anganwadi centres in east Delhi[7:1]
-- Another in Tigri serves 775 anganwadis centers in South Delhi[8]

Cooked nutritious & safe meals[2:2]

  • Dishes are made using high-protein ingredients such as jowar, bajra, ragi, rajma, chickpeas and lentils (multigrain)

Automated Machine

  • Kitchen employs cutting-edge machinery and advanced processes
  • Zero Human Touch: Fully automated machines for grain cleaning to packaging

Take-Home Ration

  • This includes packed uncooked porridge and khichdi premixes, catering to lactating mothers and young children

The kitchen’s stringent food quality checks, adherence to cleanliness regulations, and use of modern technology demonstrate the government’s commitment to providing nutritious and safe meals[7:2]

3. Education Kits

Khel Pitara kits[9][10][11]

  • 35-item kit, developed after extensive research
  • A magical box brimming with play items and books specially designed for the holistic development of young learners.
  • The kit includes manipulatives, visual reading materials, models, puzzles and games, stationery
  • Each anganwadi centre to "khel-pitara" kits to make the learing "fun and interactive-based"

Dainik Jagran Report on Khel Pitara Kit

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ymo3FyeZhP8

Redesigned ECCE kit[12]

  • Early Childhood Care and Education
  • Delhi State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) and Anganwadi team developed it
  • Children will be taught moral values and their emotional & psychological needs will be fulfilled

4. Workers: Technology, Training & Salary hike

  • Digitisation[13]: Delhi Anganwadi workers get
    • Smartphones for real-time monitoring
    • Internet pack reimbursement to Anganwadi Workers worth Rs.500/- per month
  • Training:
    • Trained anganwadi workers for 45-days to foster better child protection[14]
    • Trained anganwadi workers under its new early childhood education (ECE) curriculum[4:1]
    • Trained supervisors from 10,000+ AWCs in the Cascade Model[5:1]

Salary hike[15]

The salaries of anganwadi workers had been increased up to 2.5 times since AAP came to power in Delhi
-- Paid highest salaries in the country as of 2022

5. Why is an Anganwadi Center so important?

Also known as Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme

Target Citizens

  • Children (6 months to 6 years)
  • Pregnant women
  • Lactating mothers

Six services covered

  • Play Schools/Pre-school Education
  • Supplementary nutrition
  • Immunization
  • Health check up
  • Referral Services
  • Nutrition and Health education

6. Appreciations

The parents expressed their satisfaction with the transformed Anganwadis and have shown enthusiasm for enrolling their children[16]

Some parents have even shifted their children from private play schools to Delhi Government Anganwadi centres due to the improved facilities provided by the government[16:1]

References:

  1. https://www.telegraphindia.com/edugraph/news/delhi-govt-to-turn-anganwadi-into-early-childhood-learning-centre-read-full-details-here/cid/1953506 ↩︎

  2. https://www.theweek.in/wire-updates/national/2024/03/04/des55-dl-bud-nutrition.html ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  3. https://delhiplanning.delhi.gov.in/sites/default/files/Planning/generic_multiple_files/outcome_budget_2023-24_1-9-23.pdf ↩︎

  4. https://www.hindustantimes.com/education/delhi-government-opens-playschools-for-economically-weak/story-anpP4QmjCbUPNEekMb8niL.html ↩︎ ↩︎

  5. https://www.nipccd.nic.in/file/reports/bestprac.pdf ↩︎ ↩︎

  6. https://www.thestatesman.com/cities/delhi/sisodia-launches-delhi-govts-anganwadi-wheels-programme-1503017276.html ↩︎

  7. https://www.millenniumpost.in/delhi/delhi-wcd-minister-inspects-centralised-anganwadi-kitchen-529343 ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  8. https://theprint.in/india/delhi-minister-atishi-inspects-kitchen-that-services-anganwadis-checks-food-quality/1694258/ ↩︎

  9. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/delhi-anganwadi-centres-to-get-35-item-kit-for-better-results/articleshow/99752775.cms ↩︎

  10. https://www.millenniumpost.in/delhi/atishi-launches-khel-pitara-kit-for-anganwadi-children-526482?infinitescroll=1 ↩︎

  11. https://scert.delhi.gov.in/scert/school-kits ↩︎

  12. https://www.telegraphindia.com/edugraph/news/delhi-govt-to-turn-anganwadi-into-early-childhood-learning-centre-read-full-details-here/cid/1953506 ↩︎

  13. https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/delhi-anganwadi-workers-to-get-smart-phones-for-real-time-monitoring/story-eBViGvuZFkjdhcgGr9ShpL.html ↩︎

  14. https://satyarthi.org.in/whats_new/to-foster-better-child-protection-training-of-anganwadi-workers-in-delhi-begins/ ↩︎

  15. https://www.millenniumpost.in/delhi/govt-says-delhi-anganwadi-workers-paid-highest-salaries-in-the-country-469667 ↩︎

  16. https://www.millenniumpost.in/delhi/474-touts-arrested-at-delhi-airport-this-year-543323?infinitescroll=1 ↩︎ ↩︎

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