The Ministry of Women and Child Development is all set to host a national event, unveiling the Anganwadi Protocol for Divyang Children, a significant commitment under the Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi program of Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0. This pivotal event will be presided over by Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani, the Union Minister for Women and Child Development (WCD) and Minority Affairs, scheduled to take place at Vigyan Bhawan on November 28th, 2023.
During the event, Union Minister Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani will deliver the Keynote Address, while Shri Munjpara Mahendrabhai, Minister of State MWCD and Ayush, is slated to address the gathering. Other dignitaries such as Shri Indevar Pandey, Secretary, MoWCD; Shri. Sudhansh Pant, Secretary, MoHFW; and Shri Rajesh Aggarwal, Secretary, DEPwD, will also actively participate in the program.
A significant portion of the event will feature a panel discussion focusing on strategies for early identification, screening, and inclusion at the Anganwadi Centre. The participation of senior officers from MoHFW, DEPwD, State WCD Secretaries, experts from pivotal organizations like NIMHANS, CDPOs, Lady Supervisors, Anganwadi Workers, and ASHA workers from across the nation is expected. The inclusion of experienced Anganwadi workers caring for Divyang children aims to facilitate the sharing of best practices and experiences.
The primary objective of the event is to emphasize the importance and possibility of enhancing children’s overall well-being through early intervention and specialized support services, especially for infants and young children at risk or with disabilities and/or developmental delays. The aim is also to educate and support families and communities to enhance the participation of Divyang children in family and community life. With an outreach extending to over eight crore children from birth to six years daily, the Anganwadi eco-system stands as a crucial access point in laying the foundation for the future of the country’s children.
Aligned with the National Education Policy 2020, the integration of Divyang students into mainstream schools takes precedence over establishing segregated educational institutions. The National Curriculum Framework for Foundational Stage 2022 further recommends approaches to addressing developmental delays and disabilities in schools, emphasizing early identification through signs and symptoms. In alignment with these approaches, the Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi program has embraced the national ECCE Taskforce’s recommendation for play-based and activity-based learning pedagogy, advocating for special and timely support for Divyang children.
Citing the Draft National Policy For Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan) (2021), nearly one-third of disabilities in India can potentially be prevented through early detection and adequate intervention. To address this, the Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi program aims to enhance the skills of 13.9 Lakh Anganwadi centers, adopting a multi-sensory and toy-based approach to cater to the diverse needs of children.