How does the anganwadi feeding programme nourish young lives?

09/07/25

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Anganwadi and its Role in Child Welfare

India has made significant strides in improving child health and education, with the Anganwadi scheme playing a crucial role. Anganwadi centres, also referred to as Anganavadi in some regions, act as a support system for children, pregnant women, and lactating mothers. They provide essential services such as nutrition, early education, and healthcare to ensure a strong foundation for children under six years of age. NGOs, guided by the government, are working to support and strengthen the Anganwadi system and reach as many less privileged children as possible.

What is Anganwadi?

The term Anganwadi means ‘courtyard shelter’ in Hindi. These centres serve as rural child care facilities and are an integral part of the government’s Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) programme. They provide essential services such as nutritional meals, preschool education, immunisation, and maternal healthcare. The objective is to ensure the physical, social, and cognitive development of children before they enter formal schooling.

In different states, Anganwadi centres may have varying operational structures, but their core purpose remains the same: To support child welfare and maternal health. The programme has significantly contributed to reducing undernutrition, improving school readiness, and promoting public health awareness in communities.

History and Origin of Anganwadi

The Anganwadi scheme was launched in 1975 as part of the ICDS programme to combat undernutrition and improve child development in rural areas. And for people wondering, ‘Anganwadi comes under which department?’, it was introduced under the Ministry of Women and Child Development, addressing the urgent need to provide nutritional support and health services to mothers and children.

Since its inception, the scheme has expanded across the country, with over 1.4 million Anganwadi centres currently in operation. Over the decades, various government initiatives have been introduced to enhance its impact, such as Poshan Abhiyaan, which focuses on eliminating undernutrition and anaemia in children and women.

Read Also: Nutritional Programmes in India for Child Health and Nutrition

Objectives of the Anganwadi Scheme

The Anganwadi scheme is designed to tackle multiple developmental challenges faced by children and women in India. Its key objectives include:

• Eradicating Undernutrition: Providing supplementary nutrition, cooked meals, and take-home rations to children under six-years-old.
• Health and Immunisation: Coordinating with primary healthcare centres to provide vaccinations, health check-ups, and antenatal care for pregnant women.
• Early Childhood Education: Preparing children for formal schooling through basic literacy and numeracy activities.
• Maternal and Child Welfare: Ensuring nutritional support for pregnant and lactating mothers, reducing maternal and infant mortality rates.
• Health Awareness Programmes: Educating communities about hygiene, breastfeeding, and family planning.

How Anganwadi Centres Help Young Children

The Anganwadi scheme has played a transformative role in improving the health, education, and overall well-being of young children. The main services offered by Anganwadi centres include:

1. Nutritional Support

• Providing mid-day meals, supplementary nutrition, and fortified food to combat child undernutrition.
• Taking special care of severely undernourished children.

2. Health and Immunisation Services

• Organising regular health check-ups by doctors and health workers.
• Conducting immunisation drives in collaboration with the Health Department.
• Monitoring the growth and weight of children to track nutritional status.

3. Early Childhood Education

• Ensuring basic learning activities, storytelling, and interactive games to prepare children for school.
• Encouraging cognitive and social development.

4. Pregnancy and Maternal Care

• Educating expectant mothers about nutrition, prenatal care, and safe childbirth.
• Providing iron and folic acid supplements to reduce maternal anaemia.

5. Community Awareness Programmes

• Conducting sessions on family planning, hygiene, and child development.
• Encouraging participation from local communities and parents.

Government Initiatives to Improve Anganwadi Centres

Recognising the need to enhance the Anganwadi scheme, the government has introduced several reforms and initiatives, including:

• Poshan Abhiyaan: A nationwide initiative launched in 2018 to eliminate undernutrition and anaemia by integrating modern technology for tracking children’s growth.
• Digital Anganwadi Centres: The introduction of smart Anganwadi centres to improve monitoring, service delivery, and data collection.
• Strengthening Infrastructure: Upgrading existing Anganwadi centres with better facilities, trained staff, and digital tools.
• Expansion of Supplementary Nutrition Programme: Ensuring high-quality nutritious meals are provided to children and pregnant women.

Bal Raksha Bharat: Strengthening Anganwadi Centres for a Healthier Future

At Bal Raksha Bharat, child protection NGO, (also known as Save the Children India), we ensure that children from less privileged communities are enrolled in Anganwadi centres, where they receive nutritious meals, healthcare, and early education. We also work closely with government systems to strengthen Anganwadi and healthcare centres, improving immunisation, growth monitoring, and maternal health services. Through Mother’s Groups, we create awareness about Anganwadi centres and educate women on nutrition, childcare, and maternal health, empowering them to provide better care for their children.

Beyond direct interventions, we create awareness on Maternal Newborn Health (MNH), Child Nutrition, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), and Adolescent Reproductive and Sexual Health (ARSH). By working at the grassroots level, we aim to ensure that every child gets a healthy start in life, breaking the cycle of undernutrition and poor health.

To support our efforts and help more children, donate online or visit our website for more Anganwadi details.

Gaurav Sharma

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