Anganwadi at Doorsteps Maintaining Nutrition & Learning continuum at Home Respond to COVID-19
The prevailing situation of COVID 19 pandemic has impacted billions of people worldwide not only economically but socio emotionally as well. Under this panic situation, though the children may not be physically impacted but they are the most distressed. The children below six years are unable to express their feelings properly, miss their friends and outdoor games and are living under unknown fear and stress. Due to inadequate communication many-a-times even their parents falter in assuaging their anxieties. In such circumstances, care and protection of children assumes greater significance. It is also important to assist them in continuing their learning. The situation also warrants support for the psychosocial wellbeing of parents/caregivers and children.
Rising to the challenges posed by the Covid-19 lockdown, the Women and Child Development Department, Gujarat, took measures to ensure that none of the eligible beneficiaries are deprived of their supplementary nutrition. Partnering with UNICEF, Gujarat, the Department also introduced preschool education through digital/mass media platforms so as to meaningfully engage with both the children and their parents. Under the umbrella of ‘Umbare Anganwadi’ – that literally translates to Anganwadi at doorsteps – multiple activities were initiated with the following objectives -
1. Ensuring door step supply of Supplementary Nutrition in the form of take-home ration (THR) to the beneficiaries – Children, Adolescent Girls and Pregnant & Lactating mothers.
2. Encouraging parents to engage more positively with their children, inculcating good habits, health care, hand wash practice, sanitation and personal hygiene.
3. Providing joyful learning experiences to children at home and maintaining their learning continuum to minimize the post pandemic impact on attendance and dropout.
4. Generating awareness among parents on the activities undertaken at the Anganwadis to promote holistic development of their children.
5. Sensitizing parents on their role in creating stimulating learning environment at home.
6. Providing a forum to unleash the hidden talents/potential of children, adolescent girls, mothers and AWWs/AWHs
(A) Supplementary Nutrition
The Government of Gujarat decided as early as 16th March, 2020 to suspend all activities at Anganwadis with a view to prevent the spread of Covid-19. The Department swung into action and immediately sought the government’s approval to supply THR in lieu of Hot cooked Meal (HCM) and issued notification to this effect on 17th March, 2020. The Dairy Cooperatives producing THR for ICDS beneficiaries – other than for children in the 3-6 years’ age bracket – were suitably instructed to produce and distribute THR right up to the Anganwadis. The district ICDS teams liaised with the Offices of the District Collectors to ensure smooth movement of vehicles carrying THR. Finally, our AWWs working as real corona-warriors have continued distribution of THR to the houses of the beneficiaries braving the corona threat and scrupulously following the norms of social distancing.
(B) Pre-school Education
Once the SNP chain was streamlined, team ICDS got down to explore platforms for imparting some learning experience to the children. The idea also was to engage with their parents and guide them in undertaking creative learning activities for their children while at home. The Department adopted a three-pronged strategy – OMG (Providing Opportunity, Material and Guidance) to achieve this goal.
Provide “Opportunity”: for parents and children to work together. Online competition “Maro Samay, Maru Sarjan” (My time, My Creation) was launched. This weekly competition based on a specific theme serves as an opportunity for various categories of participants to engage in creative pursuits and showcase their talent while Staying Safe at Home.
Provide Material: AWWs distributed the theme based, age specific activity books and drawing books for 3- 6 years’ children at their home. The idea was to facilitate home based learning. Using the material, the parents can keep their children involved in various activities.
Provide Guidance: Utilizing the SATCOM facility of BISAG, the department in a path breaking attempt started telecasting live interactive sessions for parents and AWWs/AWHs entitled ‘Umbare Anganwadi’. With the support of UNICEF, Gujarat educationists, experts on child psychology and child development, preschool education practitioners etc. were roped in to address the audience. Beginning from 8th April 2020, these sessions are organized every alternate day and can be viewed on Vande Gujarat channel 1, JIO TV as well as on the Department’s YouTube channel.