An anganwadi (day care center) in a community we serve in Ranchi has recently been named ‘the model anganwadi’. The kudos goes to the teachers and the volunteers at the anganwadi who tirelessly work for the 20 children who come there.

An anganwadi is a rural health care center for mothers and children run by the ICDS (Integrated Child Development Services). The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme is one of the flagship programmes of the Government of India and represents one of the world’s largest and unique programmes for early childhood care and development.

Anganwadis primarily focus on the vulnerable and malnourished children; they provide supplementary nutrition to children below the age of six and nursing and pregnant women.

World Vision India strengthens anganawadis in the communities we serve by equipping them with necessary infrastructure that will aid the development of the children. This anganwadi in Ranchi was provided with wall paintings, water filter, play materials, stationeries, uniforms and hand wash stations.

The day care center has been around since 2016 and so has their teacher Gudiya who is passionate about providing every child in the community with the best. She proudly states that all children in the anganwadi are healthy and those that are malnourished are sent to the MTC (Malnutrition Treatment Center) where the child is treated for malnourishment. The anganwadi also conducts parent teachers meetings where parents are briefed on nutrition.

Periodic vaccinations are done and children who are healthy win prizes during vaccinations.

3-year-old Vivaan (L) won a prize for being healthy in 2017. 3 and ½ year olds Sunny and Sakshi (R) were previously malnourished but are now healthy.

The anganwadi functions from Monday to Saturday, teaches children alphabet, colouring and rhymes. They also celebrate children’s birthdays and have food competitions for parents. The parents with the most nutritious food get the prize. The parents/caregivers of children are briefed on what happens at the anganwadi.

They are given awareness on hygiene, sanitation, clean drinking water, cutting of nails and illnesses such as malaria. Volunteers teach mothers and pregnant women and lactating mothers.

The teachers and volunteers have also taken care to grow vegetables like brinjal, spinach, tomato, cucumber and fenugreek in their garden. The vegetables are cooked and provided to the children during their mid-day meals. Additionally, children who are malnourished are given ration (rice, dal, oil, soya beans).

World Vision India has strengthened over 3303 anganwadis in 60 Area Development Programmes.