Punjab govt strengthens ECCE and nutrition with state-level training; 6,000 Anganwadi workers to be hired under ‘Poshan Vi Padhai Vi’ Phase-2.

The Punjab govt is carrying out extensive capacity building and awareness programs at the state level under Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) and the Nutrition Mission, with a strong emphasis on the holistic development of children, with the goal of enhancing nutrition, health, and fundamental learning outcomes.

As the Chief Guest, Punjab’s Minister for Social Security, Women, and Child Development, Dr. Baljit Kaur, participated in a State-Level Nutrition Awareness and Capacity Building Program held today at Malout under the Nutrition Mission. With the aim of strengthening the competence of functionaries at the grassroots level and guaranteeing the successful execution of nutrition-related programs, the program was organized under the “Poshan Vi Padhai Vi” Tier-2, Phase-2 training project.

Dr. Baljit Kaur told the audience that the Punjab government is giving the field of women’s and children’s development particular attention. An additional 6,000 Anganwadi workers and helpers will be hired in the next few days, she said, adding that 5,000 Anganwadi staff had already been hired. She added that 1,000 Anganwadi centers have been updated and that every center has access to basic amenities so that children are not inconvenienced and the centers operate on par with schools.

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The Minister emphasized that improving nutrition, early education, and maternal and child health continue to be the State Government’s primary priorities. She emphasized that ECCE and nutrition are strongly related since children’s general development and meaningful learning cannot occur without enough nutrition.

The Nutrition Mission is a multi-departmental endeavor that involves the coordinated efforts of the departments of Health, Women and Child Development, Education, Drinking Water, and Sanitation, Dr. Baljit Kaur added. She emphasized the vital role of frontline employees and Anganwadi workers, saying that ongoing training and capacity building are necessary to guarantee that benefits reach the right people.
She continued by saying that the Punjab government, led by Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, is totally dedicated to children’s holistic development. The government is establishing a solid basis for a healthy and forward-thinking Punjab by implementing field-level and policy-level efforts to guarantee high-quality nutrition, health, and early education.

In accordance with the National Education Policy and early childhood education frameworks, the Department of Social Security, Women, and Child Development is conducting a thorough state-level training campaign for Anganwadi supervisors and staff in order to significantly develop ECCE. For kids ages three to six, the emphasis is on play-based, kid-centric, and developmentally appropriate education.

The cascade training strategy, which involves state-level master trainers educating Anganwadi workers at the district and block levels, has been used for efficient training delivery. To improve fundamental learning and numeracy abilities, a special focus is being placed on weekly play-based calendars, daily timetables, observation-based assessment tools, and the Aadharshila Curriculum (2024).

Participants in the program included subject matter specialists, field-level functionaries, district and block-level officials, and senior officers from a variety of departments. Implementing nutrition and ECCE programs, data-based monitoring, behavior change communication, raising community awareness, and tackling issues at the grassroots level were the main topics of the training sessions.

According to officials, comparable training and awareness initiatives are being planned in stages throughout all state districts with the aim of meeting basic education, health, and nutrition goals for women and children within the allotted period. The program ended with a shared commitment to enhancing interdepartmental collaboration for mothers’ and children’s overall development and to help create a prosperous and healthy Punjab.