Let's ensure children get early support with developmental disabilities

India is home to over 31 million children at risk of developmental disabilities, yet awareness, access to early interventions, and caregiver support remain critically lacking, especially in rural regions.

Families in these areas face a double disadvantage. First, the lack of early detection of developmental delays, and second, the absence of support systems to guide them. As a result, children with disabilities are often excluded from schools, healthcare services, and their communities, leading to a reduced quality of life for the entire family.

About Project Saarthi

Project Saarthi is Nayi Disha’s new initiative being launched in partnership with the Women and Child Development Department, Madhya Pradesh, to establish sustainable early support systems for rural caregivers of children (0-6 years) identified with or at risk of developmental delays.

Through this project, we aim to establish sustainable early support systems to empower rural caregivers of children identified with delays or at risk of delays falling under the age group of 0 to 6 years in Sehore, Madhya Pradesh.

Our Approach

• Building capacity of anganwadi workers to deliver structured, home-based developmental support and engage caregivers effectively.
• Strengthening child monitoring mechanisms through tools like DSS (Disability Screening Schedule) and DSS+ modules to ensure continuous tracking of developmental progress.
• Supporting families of children identified with delays, providing them with personalised guidance to implement home-based interventions.

Your contribution will help us to:

• Train 28 Anganwadi workers 
• Screen 1000 children aged 0-6 years for early developmental delays
• Support 120 families with home-based interventions
• Sensitise 5000 community members