Fact Sheet about Anganwadis in Delhi

Fact Sheet of Anganwadis visited on: 14 June 2011, Tuesday

Anganwadi, which is considered to be the courtyard shelter of children and women, can be reached in every locality within the walking distance of 1-2 minute from each other. The child and mother care center sponsored by the government of India is now within the reach of every family. But even after such a large number of anganwadis situated, we found that the neighbours are unaware of its existence. On enquiring about the address of anganwadi located at 4622/50 Reghar Pura, a resident who lives beside the anganwadi assured the non existence of any such anganwadi in this locality.

When we reached to the address (given on the website of the Ministry), we found a small room occupied with sags and water containers left no space for more than 3-4 children at a time. Out of 45 children (0-6 years) registered in the anganwadi, zero was present i.e. nobody was there. The food (supplementary nutrition), meant for distribution was kept uncovered and was distributed to some building workers in-spite of children. It was informed that it is the daily routine of the anganwadi.

We were surprised to see that on second day the anganwadis was locked even on a working day. We think people are not interested to improve the life of our young India. They are just ignoring their responsibilities for such a important cause which signifies the basis of human development and overall growth of India. They are just weekening the roots and foundation. We have to bring the same before the Indian Government. 

Objectives of Care Deprived Child Foundation

The predefined objectives of Care Deprived Child Foundation are:

1. To raise the health and nutritional level of poor Indian children below 6 years of age
2. To create a base for proper mental, physical and social development of children in India
3. To reduce instances of mortality, malnutrition and school dropouts among Indian Children
4. To provide health and nutritional information and education to mothers of young children to enhance child rearing capabilities of mothers in India

Underprivileged Children

§India infant mortality rate is 67 and Under five mortality rate is 93

§43% of newborn children are underweight and 48% are stunted due to chronic under nutrition

§The UN estimates that 2.1 million Indian children die before reaching the age of 5 every year – four every minute - mostly from preventable illnesses such as diarrhea, typhoid, malaria, measles and pneumonia. Every day, 1,000 Indian children die because of diarrhea alone.

§Only one third (33 per cent) Indian children receive any service from an anganwadi centre; less than 25per cent receive supplementary foods through ICDS; and only 18 per cent have their weights measured in an AWC.

Care Deprived Child

Introduction

In this era of development where Indian Economy is growing at the pace of 8-9% trajectory a new air of philanthropy has started to flow. All corporate houses from small to big one wish to do something helpful to the society in the form of better education in the villages, make available the medical facilities to the remote and tribe areas, educate farmers for better cultivation etc.  Now the question arises, whether everyone is been benefiting by these noble cause, whether the purpose of inclusion of the entire society for betterment is fulfilled, whether we are able to meet the basic requirements etc. These are the question which always arises when we talk about the society or nation as a whole which should be answered.

Save Poor child

§  In India we fail to build even the very basic infrastructure and facilities such as medical facilities, nutrient food, save the child from malnutrition, diarrhea etc, provide healthy atmosphere to grow/live/prosperous, drinking water and sanitation facilities. Then only we may think of electricity, education, employment opportunities, roads etc.

§  Even today 6.96 Cr children’s forced to live below poverty line i.e. very poor; they are not getting one time food. India infant mortality rate is 67 and Under five mortality rate is 93

§  43% of newborn children are underweight and 48% are stunted due to chronic under nutrition

§  The UN estimates that 2.1 million Indian children die before reaching the age of 5 every year – four every minute - mostly from preventable illnesses such as diarrhea, typhoid, malaria, measles and pneumonia. Every day, 1,000 Indian children die because of diarrhea alone.

To check the problem of malnutrition, diarrhea etc government of India started a system of Anganwadi in the year 1975 but the system failed to fulfill the basic need of providing nutrient food, they are still fighting to get the suitable aid from government to fight the issues such as diarrhea, malnutrition, underweight etc.

At anganwadies even we do not have proper system of sitting and sanitation. The food which we distribute is not sufficient to meet the need of all, the salaries of care takers is

not sufficient to carry her house so that they are not passionate enough to serve the society and start to do some alternate work; lack of doctors who are interested to serve the society is again an obstacle, we need more volunteers who can spread awareness amongst the poor ladies to eat healthy food while pregnant, what is the course of action to save the child from malnutrition, diarrhea and other enemies of life of child.

Save Poor Youth

Whether somebody has tried to understand the urban poor who came in cities to earn their livelihood but force to live in dirty tents near heap of litter and dirty blocked water of sewer. The child’s run here and there to support their parents so that they could able to get two time food daily. These children’s untimely start to steal the things, pick-pockets, form group of hooligan, chain snatchers, or dacoits. There is need to understand the rout cause of the problem so that these type of things could be checked. These issues could not be stopped in one day, a comprehensive support from government, public and NGO require fulfilling this dream.

We need to develop the basic infrastructure such as awareness, good habitation, employment, drinking water, elementary education, their rights and their responsibility towards society. Until and unless we make these people aware that they can live a better life along with the other people the purpose of forward movement towards advancement could not be fulfilled.

We may initiate to bring employment opportunities to the young urban who is poor so that they could apply their entire mind towards earning their livelihood, family betterment, education of their children’s and become a good human being. There is need to bring awareness among them that they are part and parcel of this growing India and they are not segregated and segmented.

The purpose of all around inclusion could be fulfilled only by creating the local groups which understand the local needs and fulfill the requirement accordingly. This will help to put better control on the local problems and help it to tackle efficiently and effectively.

Action Plan

1. To start with the support of Anganwadies to bring more volunteers to make aware the poor community regarding their rights along with make available them the information regarding how to protect their child from the enemies of life.
2. Create healthy atmosphere, groom their minds, and help them to interact the real India and the world.

3. Bring all children’s under the umbrella of elementary education at least especially girl child.
4. To find out the rout cause of not sending their children’s to the school and check the same.
5. A special education institute for the un-privileged youth such as blind, deaf and having other physical defects.
6. Create employment opportunities for the young urban youth so that we give them a right path which ultimately will go towards betterment of society. It will help them to improve themselves, their families and Nation as large.
7. Create a system and enable that to fulfill the basic needs such as education, employment opportunities, medical facilities and handle other issues.
8. Assist the young poor who have some talent so that they could come forward and could contribute to the Nation with their talent.
9. Give financial assistance if required so that any body like rickshaw-pulers, street hawkers and other similar people could expand their tiny business needs.

We request all respected Indians to participate and give a hand of support to create the very basic infrastructure so that we could say strongly that we are really growing in two digits. A single person cannot do everything, what is group can do, and a group cannot do everything what an entire society can do. Hence we request all of you to come forward with suggestions how to improve further and how to bring to provide a healthy atmosphere to poor one so that they can also run with this real India. Jai Hind. 

http://www.camanojgupta.com/

Malnutrition

Malnutrition limits development and the capacity to learn. It also costs lives: about 50 per cent of all childhood deaths are attributed to malnutrition. In India, around 46 per cent of all children below the age of three are too small for their age, 47 per cent are underweight and at least 16 per cent are wasted. Many of these children are severely malnourished. The prevalence of malnutrition varies across states, with Madhya Pradesh recording the highest rate (55 per cent) and Kerala among the lowest (27 per cent).

Malnutrition in early childhood has serious, long-term consequences because it impedes motor, sensory, cognitive, social and emotional development. Malnourished children are less likely to perform well in school and more likely to grow into malnourished adults, at greater risk of disease and early death. Around one-third of all adult women are underweight. Inadequate care of women and girls, especially during pregnancy, results in low- birth weight babies. Nearly 30 per cent of all newborns have a low birth weight, making them vulnerable to further malnutrition and disease.

Vitamin and mineral deficiencies also affect children’s survival and development. Anaemia affects 74 per cent of children under the age of three, more than 90 per cent of adolescent girls and 50 per cent of women. Iodine deficiency, which reduces learning capacity by up to 13 per cent, is widespread because fewer than half of all households use iodised salt. Vitamin A deficiency, which causes blindness and increases morbidity and mortality among pre-schoolers, also remains a public-health problem.

How to minimize/improve Malnutrition

1. To raise the health and nutritional level of poor Indian children below 6 years of age
2. To create a base for proper mental, physical and social development of children in India
3. To reduce instances of mortality, malnutrition and school dropouts among Indian Children
4. To coordinate activities of policy formulation and implementation among all departments of various ministries involved in the different government programs and schemes aimed at child development across India.
5. To provide health and nutritional information and education to mothers of young children to enhance child rearing capabilities of mothers in India