Lok Sabha Question No. 4207 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-20
Subject: 'Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi' Programme
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Shri Y S Avinash Reddy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN & CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4207

TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.12.2024

## 'POSHAN BHI PADHAI BHI' PROGRAMME

## 4207.  SHRI Y S AVINASH REDDY:

Will the Minister of Women and Child Development be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of beneficiaries under the ;Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi' programme;
- (b) the  total  number  of  anganwadi  centres  planned  to  be  up-skilled  under  the programme;
- (c) whether  the  Government  is  planning  to  bring  any  special  initiative  for  the Divyang children under the programme, if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the overall impact of this programme across the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN & CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI SAVITRI THAKUR)

(a) to (d) Government of India launched Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi (PBPB) initiative on 10th  May,  2023  for  upgrading  skills  of  all  anganwadi  workers  to  strengthen  their capacity to provide early childhood care and education (ECCE) and nutrition service to children below six years of age, including divyang children.

Capacity Building of Anganwadi Workers is envisioned as the first step in transforming the Anganwadi into a Learning Centre (a pre-primary school) which should have Highquality  infrastructure,  games  and  play  equipments  and  well  trained  Anganwadi workers. Under this programme, Ministry of Women & Child Development (MWCD) focuses on a Two Tier Training Implementation Model. National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development (NIPCCD) is entrusted with Capacity Building of Anganwadi functionaries under Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi through its Headquarters at New Delhi and five Regional Centres located across the country.

Tier I involves training of State Level Master Trainers (SLMTs), comprising CDPOs, Supervisors  &  State-Nominated  Additional  Resource  Persons,  through  NIPCCD Headquarters and its five Regional Centres. They are trained for 2 days, in a hybrid model comprising both online and offline (in person) trainings. Further, Tier II involves 3-day  training  workshop  by  SLMTs  in  physical  mode  for  the  Anganwadi  workers across the country.

To  empower  the  Anganwadi  workers  and  ensure  optimal  learning  for  all  children including Divyang children, this Ministry has developed two curriculum frameworks 'Navchetana- National Framework for Early Childhood Stimulation for Children from Birth to 3 Years' and 'Aadharshila- National Curriculum for Early Childhood Care and Education for Children from 3 to 6 Years' under Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi programme.

The National framework - 'Navchetna' guides engagement inside the home as well as at Anganwadi centres, assisting caregivers in conducting stimulation activities to support and measure a child's growth and development in the first three years of life. It  provides detailed information on the importance of brain development in the first three  years,  and  step  by  step  instructions  for  caregivers  and  frontline  workers  on conducting early stimulation activities. It also focuses on the screening, inclusion and referrals of children with disabilities.

The  National  Curriculum  -  'Adharshila'  improves  the  quality  of  early  childhood education transacted at the Anganwadi Centre to all the children of age 3-6 years attending  Anganwadi  Centres,  by  prioritising  competency  based  lesson  plans  and activities, covering all learning domains. The document enables easy planning with age appropriate activities and assessments, emphasising the use of indigenous toys and low-cost, no-cost materials. The annual plan is divided into 4+36+8 weeks, that is, 4 weeks of initiation, 36 weeks of active learning, and 8 weeks of reinforcement. Each week is divided into 5+1 days, that is, 5 for introduction and practice of activities and one day for weekly reinforcement. Each day comprises 3 blocks, one for welcome and free play, one for learning and play through activities and one for reflection and closing. As on 16.12.2024 a total of 25,938 State Level Master Trainers (CDPOs, Supervisors and Additional Resource Persons) and 71,845 Anganwadi Workers have been trained across the country to deliver the Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi programme. Ministry of Women & Child Development launched 'Anganwadi Protocol for Divyang Children' on 28th November, 2023 with inputs from Department of Empowerment of Persons  with Disabilities (DePwD)  and  Ministry  of Health & Family Welfare (MoH&FW). The protocol embodies a Social Model for Divyang inclusive care under the POSHAN Abhiyan, with a step-by-step approach. The protocol provides guidance to district administration for addressing special needs of Divyang Children relating to education and nutrition. The protocol adopts a social model of disability, as against a purely medical model. It has been simplified for ease of communication, to be more effective  on  the  ground  for  providing  better  quality  care  and  service  to  Divyang children.

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