Renovated anganwadi infuses fresh hope among Marathahalli’s poor

BENGALURU: About two months ago, the anganwadi centre off ITPL Road,

Marathahalli

, was a picture of disrepair. The ceiling leaked, the water connection had been cut off and the walls were covered with fungus. Today, thanks to a collaboration between the department of women and child development and

United Way Bengaluru

(UWBe), an NGO, the centre has been transformed.

There is running water in the kitchen and toilet, and the rooms are freshly-painted and clean. The mini-anganwadi serves the needs of 22 children, but with the makeover, more are seeking admission.

Developed under the UWBe’s Born Learning Campaign (BLC), the programme hopes to first provide adequate infrastructure, ensure school readiness and finally engage with the community to ensure consistent attendance and a trickle-down effect of the programme. Starting with 10 centres three years ago, BLC is now working in 182. It posits the anganwadi teacher as the pillar of the community.

Bhagya Kumar, BLC coordinator in the city, said that after assisting the anganwadi for three years, UWBe would retreat and allow the community to grow. “At every centre we work with, we first ensure that the infrastructure is intact to not only house the children, but also to create an atmosphere where they feel comfortable and ready to learn.”

One UWBe representative takes care of five centres. On the curriculum, Bhagya said: “We teach them pre-reading, writing, math and English. “We give them picture books to introduce the idea of reading. We provide out of class support by organising meetings every month for mothers where we educate them about early detection of diseases, nutrition awareness programmes and how to get their children quality healthcare.”

Most parents who send their children to the Maratahahalli anganwadi are either daily wage workers or stay-at-home mothers. Kalakka is a convert, twice over. After pulling her children out of anganwadis in favour of a private school, she has now brought them back after a year.

“There are fewer kids here and the teacher is much friendlier,” she said, having now enrolled both her children here. “The private school was also close by, but my daughter felt bored with the way things were taught. There was no effort to innovate. It is much better here.”

The Marathahalli anganwadi is also supported by the Chikkanna Ramakka Seva Samsthe, a citizens group that implements the recommendations of UWBe on maintaining the building, meeting requirements for teaching and capacity building.

“Dropping out is common, especially among children of migrants,” Bhagya said. “Teachers go home to home and ensure attendance. anganwadis are an integral part of the social structure of these communities and need constant strengthening. Having started with Bengaluru, the programme is also active in five other cities. We have also tied up with

Christ University

to develop baseline indicators so we can chart the progress of the children.”