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Anganwadi is a type of rural child care centre in India under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) program to combat child hunger and malnutrition. Anganwadi means "courtyard shelter" in Hindi. A typical Anganwadi center provides basic health care in a village. The key objectives of this scheme are to improve the nutritional and health status of children in the age group 0–6 years; to lay the foundation for proper psychological, physical and social development of the child; to reduce the incidence of mortality, morbidity, malnutrition and school dropout; to achieve effective coordination of policy and implementation among the various departments to promote child development; and to enhance the capability of mothers to look after the normal health and nutritional needs of their children through proper nutrition and health education. The above objectives are sought to be achieved through a package of services comprising supplementary nutrition and growth monitoring; immunization; health check-up; health referral services; non-formal pre-school education and health and nutrition education to be provided at all Anganwadi Centres (AWCs).
How was the Project implemented?
On 1st November, 2020 during an informal conversation between the former District Collector PB Nooh IAS and DC Volunteers, the worst condition of some Anganwadi in the district was discussed. After the discussion, DC Volunteers conducted a small study regarding the conditions of Anganwadis in the district and came to know that most of the Anganwadis do not have their own property, building, or sufficient facilities and proper maintenance is not done regularly. As a result, we submitted a project proposal and it was approved by the district collector. It was decided to renovate the Anganwadis by collaborating with NSS units of various colleges in the district under the coordination of DC Volunteers.
During the first phase of the renovation program, 6 colleges joined in this project. They are as follows :
1. College of Engineering, Adoor
2. College of Engineering, Kallooppara
3. College of Engineering, Aranmula
4. Catholicate College, Pathanamthitta
5. Musaliar College of Engineering
6. Mount Zion College of Engineering
On 12th November , 2020, a meeting was held at the District Collector’s chamber to discuss the project. The meeting was attended by Programme Officers & Volunteer Secretaries of NSS Units and DC Volunteers.
From December 20th, 2020, Colleges started renovation of following Anganwadis :
1. Catholicate College, Pathanamthitta - Centre No 27, Kumbazha North Anganwadi in Mylapra Panchayat in Konni Taluk
2. Mount Zion Engineering College, Kadamanitta - Centre No 29, Tharabhagam, in Naranganam Panchayat in Kozhencherry Taluk
- Centre No 22, Valiyakulam, in Naranganam Panchayath in Kozhencherry Taluk
3. Musaliar College of Engineering, Malayalapuzha - Centre No 1 Anganwadi, Malayalapuzha Panchayath in Konni taluk
4. College of Engineering, Adoor - Centre No Vellaramkunnu , Erathu Panchayath in Adoor Taluk
5. College of Engineering, Kallooppara - Govt. LP School Building, Centre No 127 Puthussery, Kallooppara Panchayath in Mallappally Taluk
6. College of Engineering, Aranmula - Centre No 30 Anganwadi, Aranmula Panchayath in Kozhencherry Taluk.
On an average, more than 30 students worked for more than 20 days to complete the project and they changed the overall face of the building. Since the work was undertaken during covid time, we made sure that all volunteers strictly followed covid protocols. Funds for renovation were raised by their own units with the support of Local representatives. The project got much appreciation in the media and also among the public for the creativity and social commitment of the volunteers. This project set an example for how a somber government building can be converted into an aesthetic one with limited manpower and in a cost efficient way.
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