I.C.D.S. KANPUR: WORKING TOWARDS BETTER CHILDCARE

KANPUR, September 23:  Integrated Child Development Services (I.C.D.S.) Kanpur, a flourishing branch of I.C.D.S. Uttar Pradesh, was established in the year 1985. Following the footsteps of its parent organization, it too has tried to reach out to every mother and child. Dinesh Singh, District Programme Officer (D.P.O.) of I.C.D.S. in Kanpur, told that there are as many as twelve I.C.D.S. projects in Kanpur and every project is headed by a Child Development Project Officer (C.D.P.O.). He told that there are a total of 1922 Anganbadi Kendras which cater to the developmental and nutritional needs of children of less than six years of age. He said that a team of 76 Supervisors works under twelve experienced C.D.P.O.s for smooth running of the system. He also told us that a total of 2,40,286 children benefited from the programmes run under these projects during the month of July in Kanpur alone.

Veena Singh, C.D.P.O. of City Second project of I.C.D.S. in Kanpur, told that I.C.D.S. is running various programmes for the welfare of women and children in Kanpur. An Anganbadi Kendra, she said, though can be started anywhere in the city but priority is given to areas in which majority of the population is economically weaker. She said that the work of an Anganbadi Kendra included providing prenatal care and nutrition to expectant mothers and providing proper immunization, proper nutrition, and preschool education to children of ages not exceeding six years. Stress is given to complete physical and psychological growth of a child she said. She also told that grades were given to the kendras ranging from A, B, and C (Best, medium, and weak respectively) for maintaining the quality control over the services provided by the kendras. 

On reaching an Anganbadi Kendra at Ranighat in Nawab Ganj area, we met an elderly but energetic Anganbadi Worker, Chaya, who told us that expectant women from economically weaker sections were registered at the centre and were given double ration of 150g/day and Take Home Ration (THR) of energy rich amylase food for six days was provided to them in advance. She told that their immunization and complete checkups were done by the health department and that they were also provided with folic acid tablets for controlling iron deficiency in them.

Another worker at an Anganbadi Kendra in Purana Kanpur area of Nawab Ganj told us that proper immunization was given to all children and children belonging to the age group of 7 months to 3 years were given weaning food (high calorie Panjiri) for fulfilling their developmental requirements. Children aged 6-8 years were given preschool education along with rich in energy amylase food of 50g/child once in the morning when they came to the kendra.

At a centre at Machua Nagar area of Nawab Ganj, we saw children taking midday meal of Khichdi which was diligently cooked at the Anganbadi Kendra itself. The worker there, Arti, told us that the children were provided with Khichdi and Dalia on alternate days costing Rs. 2 per child. She said that the children were also given Jaggery and Bengal gram to eat on Wednesdays and Fridays. She confidently said that the food prepared as midday meal for the children was as safe and healthy as the one cooked at their homes.

I.C.D.S. in India has come a long way since its establishment on October 2, 1975. From a very humble beginning of mere 33 blocks in Andhra Pradesh, it has grown into being the world’s largest integrated early childhood programme according to UNICEF. Not surprisingly, it is the only major holistic programme that addresses the health and nutrition needs of children under the age of six in India. Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) which was pathetically low at 85.5% in urban areas and 87% in the rural areas has now come down to 67% and 80% respectively due to the relentless efforts of  I.C.D.S.