PATHA FOUNDATION

Anganwadi Modernisation Program

PATHA FOUNDATION

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Objective
The project aims at modernising the existing infrastructural and pedagogical resources of
Anganwadi centre in Edappal block of Malappuram district.

Goals
• Providing infrastructural improvements so that Anganwadi centres become child friendly
• Incorporation of BaLA (Building as Learning Aid) methodology
• Provision of Pedagogical materials to Anganwadi centre
• Involvement of community in renovation of Anganwadi centre

Project Outline
The project is aimed to work in two phases.
Phase 1(Time Period - 1 Year)
• Selection of an Anganwadi with sufficient land.
• One day workshop for community leaders on proposed renovation of Anganwadi
• Formation of Anganwadi Renovation Committee with community support
• Resource mobilisation and training
• Preparation of software for digitisation of Anganwadi
Phase 2(Time Period - 2 Years)
• Expansion of Anganwadi Modernisation Program to other Anganwadi’s in the block
• Training of Anganwadi workers for using of Tablet computers
• Supply of Tablet computers to Anganwadi workers in Block
• State level workshop for information sharing to other NGO partners

PATHA FOUNDATION

INTRODUCTION

As public spaces, Anganwadi’s must be marked by the values of equality, social justice and
respect for diversity, as well as of the dignity and rights of children. Thus these values must
be consciously made part of the perspective of Anganwadi. An enabling learning
environment is one where children feel secure, where there is absence of fear, and which is
governed by relationships of equality and equity. All these concepts be integrated into the
designing and functioning of Anganwadi. The effort under this Anganwadi Modernisation
Program is to provide the physical space for furthering these ideals. The buildings are not
only to be treated as just buildings itself, rather they are to be looked upon as learning aids.
So under this program, we aim at incorporating the concepts of BaLA (Building as Learning
Aids) in the redevelopment of the existing physical spaces and in the construction of new
physical spaces for Anganwadi centres. Also this program aims at reducing the burden on
Anganwadi Teachers and Workers regarding maintaining of large number of registers and
converting the same to digital format so that the data is collected on a day to day basis and
is available for the policy making at the highest level.
PATHA FOUNDATION

PROJECT PROPOSAL

The Anganwadi Modernisation Program aims to work in 2 phases.

Phase 1
The basic step would be identification of an Anganwadi which would be taken as the first
model project. The basic parameters which needs to be taken into consideration is the
availability of land for the Anganwadi, so that the future development works are not
hampered by the non-availability of land. The second parameter would be the interest of the
Anganwadi Teacher and Worker in collaborating with this initiative. Without the worthwhile
participation of Anganwadi Teacher and Worker, this could come out as a non starter and
hence due care would be taken on this matter.

The second step would be to elicit the participation of the community in whose area the
Anganwadi is situated. There would be IEC activities conducted so that people in the region
is aware of the Modernisation Program. A public meeting be arranged in the local area and
from that a Anganwadi Renovation Committee is to be selected. The committee would
comprise of community leaders who are interested in taking up this work.

The committee would take up the estimate of how much work has to be carried out and in
this process PATHA Foundation will provide the necessary technical and institutional
support. The committee would come up with a rough estimate of how much work has to be
carried out and the cost relating to those works. Also special expertise would be solicited
from engineers and architects who could give a helping hand to the project. The physical
works to be carried out in the Anganwadi may include the following.

Ideas to address children’s aspirations from physical spaces

• Shading the Roof to reduce heat* (related to the desire of thermal comfort)

• Tyre Flipper (related to the aspiration to have play equipment)

• Fan Colour Wheel (related to the aspiration to have colours around)

Ideas related to natural child behaviour in school spaces

• Mystery Wall (related to peeping behaviour)

PATHA FOUNDATION

• Cyclic Concepts of Time (related to revolving around a pole)

• Estimating Weight (related to the habit of moving furniture)

Ideas to address the domains of child development

• Growing Trees for Climbing and Jumping (addressing physical development)

• Placing Storage Material, Learning Aids and Activity Boards etc. in a way that is
accessible to children (addressing physical development)

• Spaces to be in Groups and to be Alone* (addressing social- emotional development)

• Alphabet Boards for Stimulation (addressing intellectual development)

Learning environment to include differently able children

• Ramps, Rails and well-laid out Graphics

• Grab Bar as Pipe Phone

• Engraved Motifs in Plaster as a Pre-writing Aid (tactile learning material on walls)

The above list is not in anyway complete set of interventions, but it is some of the possible
interventions that can be made at a generic level. Interventions could be added or deleted
according to the need of the local settings.

The most important aspect of the community participation is mobilisation of resources from
community itself rather than a large philanthropic contribution from outside. If the funds are
taken from the area where Anganwadi is operating, there would be a sense of belonging
and bonding between the donors and the institution of Anganwadi. Hence a large part of
the resource mobilisation is scheduled to be obtained from the locality itself.

It is expected that the help of other NGO’s working in this field namely Vinyas headquartered
in Delhi (Developer of BaLA concept), The Anganwadi Project etc could be roped in to
provide expertise in the necessary fields of Anganwadi functioning.

The processes in Anganwadi needs to be mapped namely tracking of children, the number
of registers to be maintained and the role of Anganwadi Worker and Helper. Once this is
done, requisite software can be developed with the help of Corporate Social Responsibility
from various IT companies operating from Kochi. A partnership with Start Up Village Kochi is
also on the anvil.

Phase 2
The phase 2 of the project will be large scale replication of phase 1 across the block and in
the state in a wide manner. The foundation will encourage other NGO’s working for cause of
education to learn from our phase 1 implementation of project and also replicate. A state
level workshop and conference will be held which will have NGO’s working in education field
in attendance so that they can replicate the model in their own local settings with phase 1
model being the crux of their replication strategy. Also the software will be freely available to
other NGO’s and to Government of Kerala so that a state level database can be created
about the Anganwadi education in the state.

As a part of phase 2 it is proposed that the other Anganwadi’s in the block will be upgraded
and tablets would be given to Anganwadi workers so that the project can be implemented
in all the Anganwadi’s of block. The method of implementation will be similar to that of pilot
project being implemented in phase 1. Thus the implementation will be decentralised with
Anganwadi Renovation Committees at the forefront of renovation of Anganwadi’s in their
locality.
 Approximate Costing

Providing Plastering with smooth finish - 30 Sq M * 250 Rs = 7500 Rs

Supply of Hexagonal Desk with Plywood top - 1 No * 8000 Rs = 8000 Rs

Racks around wall for children - 1 No * 10,000 Rs = 10,000 Rs

Flag post with steps (Outdoor) - 1 No * 5000 Rs = 5000 Rs

Outside pendulum/see saw - 1 No * 4500 Rs = 4500 Rs

Floor paints, wall paints, colour identification bars - 1 No * 12,000 Rs = 12,000 Rs

Total Cost = 47,000 Rs