TRANSFORMATION OF ANGANWADIS IN BOKARO DISTRICT, JHARKHAND

0 to 6 years of age is considered as formative years of life, and it is also a period of rapid growth and development. Growing scientific evidences confirms that there are critical stages in the development of the brain during this period which influence the pathways of physical and mental health and behavior throughout the life cycle. Deficits during this stage of life have substantive and cumulative adverse effects on human development. Therefore creating an enabling environment (which will foster care, health, nutrition, play and early learning) at this stage of life can lead towards significant impact in the holistic development of the child.

It is estimated that children below six years of age, number about 3.8 million in Jharkhand. Of these, it may be taken into consideration that 25% fall below the poverty line whose very survival and development are threatened by neglect and lack of essential child care services. In a district like Bokaro, there are many such young children (from 0 to 6 years) who actually lack such care and education in their early years. The current scenario in which they live is unable to provide such a healthy environment for them. The Anganwadi centers (government run preschools) which are attended by these children are ill-equipped to address their developmental needs. These centers do not have the requisite infrastructure, untrained teachers, lack of monitoring of the system and lack of ownership and responsibility of the community towards these centers. Majority of such children are malnourished, under developed and are not able to have the experiences that will enrich them and prepare them for future learning. All these things affect their school readiness, learning and health (physical, emotional and intellectual) adversely, which in the long run affects the quality of their lives and in a manner of speaking the quality of the human resources as a nation. Hence, there is a necessity of an ECCE intervention which can give appropriate care and education to such young children and help in their overall development.

The key factor in ensuring the proper functioning of the Anganwadi is the teacher herself. Prajayatna will work with the teachers of all the Anganwadis coming together for monthly training where success stories and challenges would be shared on a common platform. The teachers will be equipped with skills required to enhance the learning and development of every child. Each teacher will be asked to prepare a monthly plan and time table to implement it as per schedule.

Prajayatna proposes to keep a team of outreach workers who will provide onsite support to Anganwadis and mentor them in the implementation of whatever they have learnt and planned. The training and monitoring will ensure effective teaching so that children develop skills and abilities in all domains of development like social, physical, communication, cognitive, emotional and sensorial skills appropriate to their age. The progress of each child will be documented in a report card for immediate reference and records.

The project also envisages enhancing the understanding of the parents and community in the context of early childhood care and education and the important role they play creating and maintaining a learning environment at home to support the holistic development of their children. The Anganwadis are governed by members of the community like the Ward members, Panchayat members and other self help groups. Their periodic meetings to assess the state of Anganwadis will also support the effective governance of the centres. Monthly meetings will be held to orient the community leaders to take ownership of the quality of services rendered by Anganwadis.

·      Direct intervention in 465 Anganwadis reaching out to 10,000 children and their families.

·      75% of the teachers are expected to retain the learning and become self driven in future.

·      Ensure 100% enrollment of children of each village of the Anganwadi center.

·      90% attendance of children who are enrolled in the Anganwadis.

·      80% of the parents of these children will be sensitised towards the need to send children to Anganwadis and their responsibilities towards early

education of their child.

·      75% of the Anganwadi teachers will work with a written plan in their centers.

·      Infuse a liking for learning among children by teachers

·      Improve governance of Anganwadis and enhance the interest of local community towards their center.

·      Create a systemic change in the way teachers are mentored and monitored by the lady supervisors.

·      100% of the Anganwadi has an Anganwadi development plan which is reviewed and implemented by the stakeholders.

·      The impact results will be compared to the findings of an initial baseline survey and difference seen at the end of the year