Morung Express News
Tuensang | September 9
Anganwadi centres (AWCs) are the points of basic healthcare, nutrition and informal education for people in rural areas.
Started by the Government of India in 1975 as part of the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) program to combat child hunger and malnutrition, AWCs in the present day provide supplementary nutrition, non-formal pre-school and health education, etc.
For children in rural areas, AWCs are essential for their overall development.
With this aspect in mind, a model Anganwadi Centre was launched in Tuensang under the National Nutrition Mission on September 9.
During the launch of the centre and the Rashtriya Poshan Maah, Tuensang Deputy Commissioner Kumar Ramnikant stressed on the importance of AWCs.
“This anganwadi centre is a basic necessity, it is like a root of a tree,” the DC said during the launch, organised by the Department of Social Welfare (ICDS) Tuensang.
In the programme, the declaration of PMMVY, Block Sub Cell was also held. The centre will cover 9 neighbouring villages and 4 khels of Tuensang village and the office will start functioning from the coming week, according to L Tonen Chang, District Coordinator, PMMVY.
Indigenous touch
While the launch of the centre is a welcome move in itself, what is different about this model AWC in Tuensang is the use of indigenous items.
Various indigenous items such as bamboo balls in many sizes, bamboo mat, bamboo baskets, and bamboo fire extinguishers have been kept inside the centre.
“All these traditional items are learning kit for the children and it all serves a purpose. These were made mainly because they are less expensive, low in budget and bamboo which is available as compared to other items that are sold in the market,” Chulongla, Centre Administrator, Sakhi-One Stop Centre, Tuensang shared.
With the intention to attract and teach the children at the same time, different colours have also been used in the centre.
“Different colours which are painted here were done with an intention to make the children know the names of the colours.
Children from age 2-5 years will come at this centre and we want them to at least know the names of the colours in English before they join school. The traditional plates and cups have also been made kept here and later on we will mark them with numbers and letters so that they will learn by looking at it,” she added.
Pictures of animals, fishes, birds etc are also painted around the walls of the Anganwadi centre.
‘Combined effort’
Works for renovation of the AWC had been undertaken on July 15 this year, initiated by Poshan Abhiyan, Sakhi-One Stop Centre, PMMVY and district administration.
“I discussed with SBP Poshan Abhiyaan to do something like a model anganwadi centre because when we look at the infrastructure here, it is not in a very good state,” the DC shared during the launch.
He expressed gratitude to the team for the efforts put into renovation. “I am very fortunate to have a young team that supported me right from the beginning who have made a tremendous change in this centre in the way it looks now. The support from the community was also immense which shows that if we have pure thoughts then we can do wonders and transform anything,” he expressed.
With renovation undertaken in July, the centre was scheduled to be launched on August 15. However due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the launch had to be postponed.
The delayed launch of the model centre did not dampen the spirits of the people.
Koma Yangbou, Village Council Chairman C/Khel, Tuensang village welcomed the initiative. He thanked the DC for his enthusiasm and encouragement to make the centre a success.
A POSHAN pledge was taken by all the attendees and a special song was presented by the Anganwadi workers and helpers during the launch.
