Author: Dr. Nandita De Souza | Apr 14, 2016
Sethu’s work often takes us to places where we encounter magic and wonder, hidden away from the public gaze. For the last few weeks, members of our team have been visiting anganwadi centres across Goa, often in remote areas. There has been so much criticism of balwadis and very little said about the precious work that is done by the anganwadi teachers and helpers, sometimes in very adverse conditions. We have come across many very dedicated educators who engage children in avariety of ways, including play, songs, games and stories and allow them to be what they are – children – first and foremost.
The focus is on self help skills and socialisation. Children are aIlowed to talk and the rich multiplicity of languages brought to the classroom is an amazing resource. In urban areas, we have often heard 4 languages being used – HIndi, Konkani, Marathi and English. If we compare what happens in many (if not most) private kindergartens, it seems like anganwadis are the last bastion of a child-friendly education. The main constraints in the balvadis are space, space and space. UNICEF standards recommend 35 sq. m for every 30 children. I wish we had a magic wand to ensure that every anganwadi had safe and adequate room for children to play and learn, with separate spaces for the kitchen, storing sacks of grain and a toilet. With just this ONE change, we could raise the level of the service substantially and give thousands of children their right to safety, protection, learning, play and health.