Aug - 2010
World Vision India Develops 'Model Anganwadi Center' in RajasthanIn the journey to
achieve child wellbeing, World Vision India's Baran Area Development Programme (ADP) has set a milestone by developing a district
level “Model Anganwadi Center” at Chainpura Sunda village in Baran district,
Rajasthan. The Anganwadi Center was inaugurated by Ms. Jacqui Reeces of World
Vision Australia on 29th July 2010. Speaking on the occasion, Ms.
Jacqui expressed her appreciation for the commendable partnership between the
ICDS (Integrated Child Development Scheme), Ministry of Women and Child
Development, Government of India and World Vision India in the state of
Rajasthan.
The ‘Model Anganwadi
Center’ used the already existing structure and remodeled it into a child
friendly and educative space both inside and outside. The center is painted
with moral pictorial stories, Hindi and English alphabets, numbers and other
learning materials. In order to create an interest amongst the children, the
center is also equipped with recreational materials such as swings, sliders,
sea-rockers, etc...
Designed to create
awareness among the community people on health and nutrition for children and
women, related messages are painted on the walls of this center. In order to
sensitize women about the nutritional status of their children, a growth
monitoring chart to measure the nutritional status of children is also painted.
The outer walls are painted with pictures for illiterate women in a comparative
manner so as to create awareness about impacts of adopting ideal health
behaviours.
Mr. Harish Chand,
Programme Manager of Baran ADP, provided an overview of the Model Anganwadi
Center and the services that will be provided by the center in the days to
come. As of now, the Center, besides the space for children, also has a
separate room for pregnant women where they can get their regular check-ups
done.
Government officials
of ICDS, community members from Chainpura Sunda village and also neighbouring
villagers expressed their gratitude to World Vision for developing such a
model. “This model will be replicated in the other 60 Anganwadi centers within
World Vision target areas and also other parts of Rajasthan in collaboration
with the government and also other NGOs”, said Harish excitedly. This
initiative will then directly impact the lives of over 1800 children between
the ages of 3 years to 6 years.
It
is worth noting that a Memorandum of Understand (MOU) was signed between the
Government of Rajasthan and Baran ADP to strengthen the capacity of Anganwadi workers,
provide technical support and help monitor 60 ICDS centers in 40 villages in
August 2009. Since then there has been tremendous change in the functioning of
the ICDS centers across the 40 villages.
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