Madhya Pradesh government’s scheme, ‘Come Adopt an Anganwadi’, is already showing encouraging results as officers, public representatives, NGOs and companies are making a beeline to adopt anganwadis run by the Women and Child Development Department across the state. The best part about this development is that the people and organisations are voluntarily coming forward for adoption.
The collector of Katni district himself adopted an Anganwadi centre, leading by example. Indian Masterminds spoke to the collector, 2013-batch IAS officer Priyank Mishra, to get more details.
PEOPLE RESPONDING TO GOVT CALL
It is a fact that the future of children in rural areas can be changed by reforming the Anganwadi centres. Perhaps that is why, the scheme, ‘Adopt an Anganwadi’, is being given great importance in all the districts of Madhya Pradesh and the officials are working on this scheme with great enthusiasm. The District Program Officer of Katni district adopted Anganwadi centre number 155 under this scheme and resolved to strengthen the arrangements of the centre. He said that there are 1712 anganwadi centres operating in the district, out of which, 1300 centers have been adopted by the public representatives of the district, district level and block level officers, industrialists and common people.
COME ADOPT AN ANGANWADI
On January 1, the ‘Come Adopt an Anganwadi’ programme was started in the state with the objective of increasing community participation in strengthening the anganwadi Centers. After CM’s appeal to adopt an anganwadi, over 63,000 volunteers come forward to do so. So far, about 63,768 participants have registered in this campaign. After contacting 28,746 participants, officials of the Women and Child Development Department have obtained consent for necessary cooperation in the concerned anganwadi centres.
DC of Katni, Priyank Mishra, said, “This plan is very important for us, because with its help, we can introduce reforms from the grassroot level. Under this scheme, District Magistrates and other officers, NGOs, social organizations and companies with CSR funds are all adopting one anganwadi each. The adoption includes personally monitoring the children, taking care of them, etc. Whether it is to bring toys for the children or to make some improvements in the anganwadi building, all needs will be taken care of by the adopter.”
HOW TO ADOPT
Any person can register by giving a missed call on mobile number 89896 22333 to take part in the ‘Adopt an Anganwadi’ campaign. For adopting anganwadi centers, assistance will be provided by the District Collector at the district level. The amount will be accepted in the form of check or bank draft only. For adoption, anganwadis will be divided into three categories. Those anganwadis where all facilities are available, will be kept in the first category. In the second category, Anganwadis where there are less services, will be placed. Anganwadis which do not have any facilities will fall in the third category. DC Mishra further informed that the process will start with the missed call and people can adopt an anganwadi of their choice.
WHAT ARE ANGANWADIS?
The anganwadi scheme was started in 1975 by the government of India under the Integrated Child Development Services program to save three to six year old children and their mothers from malnutrition in rural areas of India. Anganwadi is basically a centre of mother and child care. Anganwadi means courtyard shelter. Such a centre is built in each village on the basis of population of about 400 to 800 people. Each gram panchayat area may have one or more anganwadi centres depending on the population. The centres are run by anganwadi workers and helpers.
