KOCHI: Leaky roofs, dingy class rooms, frail children, lack of sanitation and unqualified teachers. That’s the bleak picture most people have of ‘anganwadi centres’. That image is fast becoming a thing of the past. Clean shelters, balanced diet, hygienic sanitation, caring teachers and staff, and almost all the facilities we can find in a uber-modern ‘day-Care’- that’s what constitutes a present day anganwadi centre.
The Integrated Child Development Service (ICDS), initiated by the Central Government in 1975, aimed at making healthcare facilities, food supply and nutrition affordable and accessible, slowly but steadily, has tranformed the anganwadis in the state. This academic year, the Corporation authorities have taken special care to nurture anganawadis falling under their limits.
“The Corporation has been providing all support to the development of the anganwadi system. We made sure they have buildings with ample facilities. We also provided up to `25,000 for repair works of these buildings,” said R Thyagarajan, Corporation Education and Sports standing committee chairman.But the anganawadis also face the uphill task of fighting the rampant misconception associated with it. Nowadays, growing urbanisation has led to the spike in demand for modern day care centres. Despite the consistent aid from government and the availability of proper facilities, parents are reluctant to send their kids to anganwadis.But this ‘cliched’ image is fast changing. Unlike day cares, teachers in anganwadi centres are well trained and follow a curriculum for teaching. Anganawadi teachers are given special training for teaching and dealing with children. Most of the anganwadis have seperate, clean wash rooms for children and the teachers. Students are taught about cleanliness, hygiene and healthy habits.
A unique food timetable has been set for the anganwadi students. Most of the anganawadis also provide free monthly health checkups and timely vaccinations, including occasional visits by doctors from the US, China and Europe. “The Corporation has been very supportive. About `7 to `8 lakh was sanctioned for the construction of our new building. Its work is still in progress and we are expecting to shift to our own building soon,” says Devaki, an anganwadi teacher, Kaloor.