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Shillong: The Meghalaya government last year introduced the Early Childhood Development (ECD) mission with an aim to further strengthen the existing central programme of Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) and better the delivery system. Under ECD, which is being funded by the Asian Development Bank, the state government will upgrade 2,000 existing Anganwadi centres and set up 600 more.
In a conversation with Business Northeast, the chief operating officer (COO) of ECD, Ronald Kynta spoke about the ambitious project and how it will help the state achieve socio-economic growth in the long run. Excerpts:
BNE: What is the primary focus of the ECD Mission?
COO: As we know from several studies and research reports that a child’s brain develops between 0-6 years. A typical school education might not help in the cognitive development of a child. This programme, which is conceived by the state, has been planned keeping in mind the cognitive development of children. The early childhood care and education focuses on 0-3 years for learning through games and 3-6 years. ECD will strengthen the existing ICDS programme and improve the delivery system.
Under ECD, we will upgrade 2,000 existing Anganwadi centres and set up 600 upgraded centres. Besides, we will also tweak the menu of the meal served to children at Anganwadi centres. We will introduce eggs twice a week. This is important because traditionally, children in villages here are not used to eating eggs, which can be a great source of nutrients like protein and vitamins.
It has been found that a healthy upbringing in the early years of childhood goes a long way in not only securing a child’s future but also the state’s growth by increasing the number of educated youths and decreasing crime.
BNE: The government recently roped in the Sesame Workshop for the ECD programme. What role will Sesame play?
COO: Sesame will help the state co-create a learning module for children focusing on their cognitive ability. The module will be tailor-made for Meghalaya. Having said that, I must mention that we have already made it clear to Sesame that stakeholders here will play a key role in co-creating the module.
BNE: What kind of upgradation of Anganwadi centres are you looking at?
COO: We are looking at infrastructural upscaling and manpower building. We will introduce creches at Anganwadi centres for working mothers. Also, for the implementation of ECD, we have to better the child to caregiver ratio, which I ideally 1:10. But at present, the number of caregivers at Anganwadi centres is low. So, that also we will improve.
For all these, we are closely collaborating with multiple departments, including Social Welfare, Education, Healthcare and C&RD.
BNE: How do you plan to fund the mission?
COO: The project is funded by the Asian Development Bank, which has provided $50 million. We will converge this with the existing NREGA programme of the Centre and develop infrastructure. For this, the State Rural Employment Society will be the nodal agency for this. We are hoping that by the third week of October, we will be able to roll out the basic infrastructure for at least 1,000 Anganwadis.
BNE: How do you intend to increase staff at Anganwadi centres?
COO: We are planning to bring on board members of women’s Self-Help Groups (SHGs). As you know the state government has been facilitating the growth of SHGs through various schemes. Now, we have a strong network of SHGs in rural areas who are our social capital at the grassroots level. The members can volunteer in the creches which will be set up at Anganwadi centres.
BNE: But will the SHG members work without remuneration?
COO: As we strengthen the SHGs, we also make the members aware of their social responsibilities for holistic growth of the state. The volunteer work will be their contribution to society as children are the state’s future. Of course, they will be paid an honorarium for the time they will dedicate at the ECD centres.
In this context, I would like to mention one thing. In Meghalaya, about 1,500 villages were left out of the ICDS programme because these hamlets could not meet the criteria laid down by the Centre for opting for the integrated programme. But ECD will help bridge that gap. And with the help of SHGs, we can cover all these villages which were hitherto missing out on the benefits. Hence, ECD will promote inclusiveness too.
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