Greetings from Sutradhar!
Item
- Title
- Greetings from Sutradhar!
- extracted text
-
SDA-RF-CH-4A.3
21st May 2003
bear friends.
Greetings from Sutradhar!
Finally we have put the data together and have analyzed it to an extent. We are eager to
share this data and discuss it in length on 29th May 2003 at APb. Kindly find attached the
draft of the data analysis. We would appreciate it, if you could:
1.
Carefully look at the portions in red, and if you could come prepared with your responses
to them.
2. If you could make a list of your feedback and observations of the data in the categories
as mentioned in the draft (e.g. staff, physical environment etc).
Kindly carry the draft copy to the meeting. We hope to start the meeting by 10.00 a.m. and
will be a day-long meeting. Your participation and feedback is very valuable, so please make
it convenient to participate.
Venue: APb,
6th cross, St. Thomas town, Hutchins road, Lingarajpuram. Bangalore- 84
Phone: 5475861/ 5475165
Thanking you,
Regards,
Rekha. 5
1
pLC_
1s
SUTRADHAR, 599, 1 7A Cross, 7 Main, off CMH Road, Indiranagar Stg 2, Bangalore 560 038
An Educational Resource Centre. Trust No 976/94-95. Telefax: 5288545. E-mail: sutra@vsnl.com
Website: www.sutradhar.com
May 211 2003. Whet the data says...
Physical environment:
1.
Most of the AWCs have adequate ventilation, light, and space to store material.
However, some are run in a temple, choultry, in the helper's house itself or next to the
A^IWs house. There arc entire families living in some centers.
When the center doubles up for other work there are several problems.
It is often left dirty.
" As other families live in the A WC it is not dean. There is a lot of
disturbance. The smoke while cooking comes towards the children. Even if
toys are given there is no safe place to store them.
In one center, the community feels the floor will crack if children use play
materials.
In the
run in a temple courtyard, the AWW says:
nI can't teach them action songs as it is an open place. People stand and
watch. I feel shy."
Often 2 or even 3 AWCs run in the same space; this makes it cramped and
suffocating. Also the AWWs and helpers tend to interact and chat to one another
more than looking after the children.
In the center located right next to the AWW's house, she was frequently absent as
she was in her own house!
In 6 AWCs there are also other related educational activities going on, such as a school
or another anganwadi. Another 17/37 centres are used for other activities (like practice
drama, wedding, temple meeting, sangha meeting. This is inevitable as some of the
centers are located in the choultry/temple/community hall}
2.
When cooking is done in the centre, the smoke creates a problem; and reduces the
available safe space for children to play. Observers felt that 22/37 AWCs have
inadequate cooking conditions (no kitchen, done in a corner, smoking chimney, no
ventilation, done outside) In 13 centres the food is cooked in the center. In no centre
was the food cooked elsewhere, (helper's house?)
3.
14/37 AWCs are located on the main road and are noisy. The noise is due to vehicles,
flourmill, or factory.
4. 33/37 AWCs have structural problems like leaky roof, peeling paint and sheet roof.
This is quite a significant number. 18/37 are observed to have dysfunctional
windows/doors.
r
5. The outside surroundings of about 31 AWCs are observed to be dirty; as garbage, open
drains and children’s toiletry happens there. 23/37 centres throw the garbage outside.
Both observers and AWWs feel that in about 20 centres there is no outdoor play space.
However with respect to the outdoor, the observers feel that only 6 centres are “safe"
whereas the AWWs feel that 16 are "safe”.
6.
Observers and AWWs feel that 20 centres are clean and safe for indoor play.
Data collectors have found cigarette butts in 24/37 AWCs. They found rusted
equipment in 14/37 AWCs (rusted table, children’s toys, sewing machine, iron sheets,
chains, plates, tumblers) They saw an unsafe staircase in 10/37 centres. There were
also broken toys with small pieces and peeling paint.
"In one center in Kanakapura, the A WW was not there and a blind boy was looking
after the center. A child had a medicine tablet in its hand along with the toys.n
7.
28/37 AWCs don’t have toilets. Children mostly go outside or in two centres use public
toilets. In 7 centres there are toilets that are not being used by children. AWWs say
they are not being used due to a water problem, or so that they do not become dirty. In
some cases only the staff uses them. 12 AWWs feel that children do not manage their
toilet themselves. But we also know that the A WWdoes not see cleaning the children as
part of her responsibilities - so how do the children manage?
8.
20/37 centres have a running water source for drinking and washing and two store
water.
9.
Equipment: More than 30% of the AWCs are seen to have weighing machines, plates,
vessels, drum to store water, flat boards (mane), boxes, chairs, tables and cupboards.
Children:
1.
Attendance: Average group size of children observed attending the anganwadi is
between 15-25. Lowest is 6 children in Vivekananda block and maximum is 58 children in
NS garden.
2. Age:
35 centres have children in the age group of 3-6 years
28 centres also have children in the age group of 0-3
4 AWCs have children above 6 years (nobody to send them to higher classes, disabled
children)
3. Age decision: While birth certificates are often used to decide the age of children; in
most centres AWWs have reported that they also use festivals, jatakas, cultivation
schedule, immunization, delivery lists and pregnant mother’s list as the basis to decide
the age of the children.
2.
4.
Disabled children have been observed in only 3/37 AWCs. In the Matadahalli AWC
there are 9 disabled children (3 mentally challenged and 6 physically challenged)
5. In 14/37 centres children are enrolled but regularly absent. Some children go to the
nearby convent, others go to private preschools, some have family problems, sometimes
mothers are not interested, or children have contagious disease (kaggi) so they are not
sent.
6.
The common reasons why AWWs feel children are occasionally absent are: fever,
festivals, and kids being out of town. Most of the children are absent in 5 centres at
Valmikinagr and Faruknagar during Ramzan, as the mothers are sleeping late due to
fasting.
Mothers feel children sometimes do not attend because of the AWW/food.
"She does not take care with love and affection. She shows kolu (stick). That's why
they are absent."
"Children don't go if the ayammo doesn't come to pick them up. They think it is a
holiday"
" When theygive only laddu continuously for three days, children refuse to go. And
if our children eat the laddu that they give, their cheeks will become swollen and
result in loose motions."
7.
Why are some children never enrolled in the A^NC>
Some mothers feel that children are not properly taken care of.
"Even when the children are 5, we give false date of birth andget an admission in
the school, because the 3kg of rice that we get in the school are much better than
the food full of worms that we get at the A WC"
The AWW, supervisor and balavikasa samithi feel that there is a drop in the enrollment
because of the preschools that some NGOs have started.
8. SES: Except for very few children in two centres all the other centres have children
coming from non-general category ( SC, ST, OBC, RM). Most of them are poor and
predominantly speak Kannada. A few children speak Telugu, Urdu, Tamil, Lambani.
Some centers seem to serve only one caste or religion.
In Bangalore (rural) some centers serve only OBC. When asked why this is so, the
community says: "When the government has done it, why can't we. The government has
given reservation to SCs and Gowdas."
3
Says an observer; "In Goripalya, in Bangalore (urban), there is a large Muslim population
and a small number of Tamil speaking people. Comments were made at the community
meeting that "Muslims don't send children to school like us, they put them to work". The
anganwadi we visited did not have even a single Muslim child. We heard that there is
another anganwadi which has only Muslim children on the other side of the slum."
Staff:
1.
Presence of staff: 26/37 centres have an AWW; 30/37 have a helper as reported to
the data collectors.
2.
This suggests that only 18 centres have both an AWW and helper. In one center the
AWW was not seen during the entire two weeks of data collection. In another center
the helper and a blind boy were running the center.
" The A WW has paid Rs 25 to a blind boy to teach the children.n
t As the helper works as a housemaid she has asked a lady who is a TB patient to look
after the children. This lady spits on the floor itself and theygive bread to the
children in the same place' 1
"Teachers in the two A WCs under the same roof were absent. Helpers were taking
care of the children. There was no educational activity as both of them are illiterate
and one of the helpers is deaf and dumb."
3. Timings: Even when the AWC has staff, their timings are erratic.
"Helper comes in the morning and opens the center. Teacher comes at 12.30
gives the food and goes back by 1.00 bus."
4.
About 30/37 AWCs are run by AWWs who have 10-15 years of experience. Helpers are
in the age group of 60 and above. This often makes it difficult for them to look after
little children (picking them up, cooking, cleaning the center and children, fetching
water, taking care when AWW not there.)
5. Travel: 23/37 AWWs travel by bus to reach the centre. While 16/37 take less than
half an hour to reach; 4 take more than an hour to reach.
An observer sees:
"The A WW is generally absent rather than present. She has to take at least
two buses to reach the center. A large portion of the honorarium is spent on
commuting. That could be the reason why she is absent most of the time."
The community feels:
"If the anganwadi worker is from the same village she will come on time."
The AWW should live near the center, but not too close!
"The A WWhouse is next to the center so she does not stay in the center.
She doesn't play any role. The food is stocked in her house."... learns an
observer.
4
6.
AWWs primarily speak Kannada. Children appear to be disadvantaged when they speak a
minority language.
The observer sees: "Children's language is Lambani and A WWs language is Kannada.
A WW can't follow what the children speak"
The community says: " A WW knows only Kannada but most children speak Urdu. The
helper is deaf and dumb. We don't see any effort by the A WW to learn the language
of the children."
7.
Social interaction: In 31/37 of the AWCs, data collectors feel the AWW is sensitive to
the children; eg she knows their names. In 18/37 centres they have seen positive
interaction. Language is sometimes a problem in interaction. In 15 centres the observers
did not see the AWW asking any questions. In 12 centres they have seen a negative or
indifferent attitude (scolding, showing a stick, chatting to another AWW, calling helper
for everything).
"The helper scolds, hits and scares the children."
"This place has 3 anganwadis, and hence 3 helpers and 3A WWs spend their time
speaking to each other and don't do any activity for the children.
"Children from 2 A WCs come here; both the teachers are not conducting any
activity, they are talking about problems at home and the helper takes care of the
children."
8.
What are some of the feelings and problems faced by AWW?
Most of the AWWs say they are happy to work with children
11/37 are unhappy about the pay
Commuting, lack of promotion, maintaining records, job security, maintaining strce
shakti finances, lack of facilities, attitude of the community, other jobs are some
problems.
"Z have worked for 24 years but have not been promoted to the post of supervisor"
n We don't have job security"
a I am content doing only anganwadi work. I find it difficult if they give us other
responsibilities."
Streeshakti involves accounting for money, it is a little difficult
" From past 20 days they were not able to cook the food as the helper was sick.
When they told CDPO that the foodstock is left she suggested that they write
that they have cooked everyday in the register; and both of them can share the
food stock. The community complained that she steals"
"Helper of an A WO in Kanakapura shared that she (60 year old woman) was beaten
up as she refused to give tumblers meant for children, to the village men who used
the angnawadi to drink liquor in the evening.
"Because number of records to be maintained is more it hinders children s activities
5
9. Extra jobs: AWWs have to do KEB visits, election work, NGO work, pulse polio,
Bhagyajyothi visit over and above their duties.
"They do not do what they are supposed to do. They have started a stree shakti
programme, they do only the other work, "says a mother.
10. Training: 33/37 AWWs find training very helpful in their work. Training details?
10. AWW-CbPO-Supervisor : 30 AWWs say they have good relationship with the
supervisor and CbPO. In one center the supervisor said he couldn't do anything about
the AWW's regular absence because she was using pressure through the local “area
leader".
Education:
1.
When asked about how children learn, AWW speaks of activities such as singing, playing,
using fingers. They do not mention using the materials much, even though they have
them at the center.
” The play materials are kept in Godrej and were looking like new ones. When asked
the AWW says that if it is lost, they are held accountable.
2. What goes on in the center? The data collectors have recorded that only in 11 AWCs
children were engaged in educational activities! There was no activity/ non educational
activity in 22 centres (crying, sitting, fighting, AWW writing records, stree shakti)
In 20 centres children were seen interacting with one another.
3. 50% of the AWWs say that they teach reading, writing and numbers. Data collectors
have observed such activity in 9 centres. The community is by and large sympathetic
towards the teacher coming late. They felt that it is ok if she comes late but she should
teach children to read and write.
"Children should be given slate and should be taught ABC.
"Like the children in convent our children should be taught to read and write"
"They teach 3 year old children in the convent"
”We feel it is important to teach children few alphabets rather than give bread".
An AWW says: "Children should be given uniforms and play materials appropriate to
their age, like a toy horse. But the villagers insist we teach alphabets."
4.
On the day of observation; data collectors felt that in only 8 AWCs the play materials
were adequate. In the centers some play materials were in use while others were in the
cupboard. Materials seen included:
Wooden toys, beads, horse—most popular, seen in more than 10 centres
Kitchen set, dolls, jigsaw puzzle, vegetable chart, plastic animals, ball — seen
in more than 5 centres.
5.
Observers found that 20 AWCs had an attractive, child-friendly environment (charts,
hangings etc).
6
6. 9 AWCs are reported to have play materials made by children. Equal number of
materials are readymade, made by teacher, given by the department.
7. In 4 AWCs it is found that all the children were not involved in the activities, because
of the following reasons.
songs or prayers are lengthy and children can’t learn them
Tamil speaking children could not follow Kannada instructions
- AWW was not sensitive to the fact that some children could not pronounce
the words
8. In more than 14/37 centres AWWs have mentioned singing, playing, action songs as the
educational activities they do most often. They say they also teach children in
identifying fruits and cotours, writing, story telling.
9.
They feel the children enjoy singing, listening to stories, playing and action songs.
10. More than 30 AWWs say they have a daily plan, monthly and yearly program schedule.
The observers however did not see these in use. AWWs have mixed opinions about the
usefulness of these:
” It is at a higher level than what children can understand. Therefore we are unable
to teach Z
"It is not possible to follow as they say. We should keep in mind how children
understand and learn *.
" Initially it is difficult to keep all the necessary teaching aids and information. But
once it is ready it is easy later.n
11. While 23 centres have a pre-school activity book 9 do not.
Despite most centers having plans, materials and guidebooks not much educational activity is
happening!
Health and hygiene:
1.
33/37 AWCs weigh children every month. In the 2 centres that do not weigh, the
reasons include objections from the community as they feel that children will grow thin
if you weigh. The community seems to have some speculation about this:
• We don't know that they weigh. We are learning it from you."
" Helper says they check weight, but they have not told us a single day as to how
much they weigh and also about growth."
7
2. Most organise monthly or quarterly health checkups.
In three centers in Kanakapura, the doctors have not visited. Says an AWW:
u From 3 years the doctor has not come... they don't even touch the children to
examine" In these areas the records also show no supply of iron and folic acid for
mothers for last 2 months to 2 years - does their rural location pose a problem?
11/37 AWCs have not organised immunisation camps. This is quite significant.
------.Parents don.t a//0lv doctors to give injections. They fee! the children willget fever.
3.
Therefore we give drops, syrups and medicines." Says an AWW.
"It does not happen in this village, at that time they are sent elsewhere says
another AWW from Kanakapura.
4.
In 6 AWCs children were observed sleeping. The reasons include: children are tired of
crying, new children cry, they have had no breakfast before coming, children of
pourakarmikas wake up early before their parents leave for work.
5. In most AWCs children with common illness don't come to the center. If such children
do come, 27 AWWs have said that they give them medicines. 4 A WWs have said that
they give first aid/medicines if the child is hurt.
6.
Most of the AWWs don't see cleaning up children as their responsibilit y. They inform
the mothers; sometimes the helper cleans; they send kids home, or even scold them.
Says a mother; "Ayamma does not dean if the children shit. They wtII send for
mothers to come and dean the place and the child.
Another mother says: " They don't do anything. They hold a stick in the hand and
threaten children and ask them to dean themselves in the doth that the children
are wearing."
An observation: "One child in the center had a running nose and the A WW asked the
child to dean its nose in the doth he was wearing."
"If they don't come dean the helper will send them home".
; on|y in 16 centres did observers see AWWs asking children to wash
7. Hand washing:
their hands before eating. In 15 centres this was not asked.
8. ©neral cleanliness: The children were observed to be clean and well groomed only in 11
centres; in the rest they were all dirty or of mixed cleanliness.
9.
11 AWWs say they provide health awareness mostly to mothers on ORS, dysentery,
health suggestions and cleanliness.
Mothers from some communities confirm this: "she demonstrates how to cook nutritious
food. "Others feel calling mothers meetings is token; " She will not be there for more
than 5minutes herself. We don't understand why she asks mothers to come. In another
center a mother says: "We don't know: probably stree shakti members might have got
the information. “
S
Nutrition:
1.
Food: In 21 centres children are served 2 slices of bread and in 13 centres children are
served cooked food. This includes chitrana, laddu, energy food, sweet pongal.
2.
Quality: 15/37 AWWs feel that quality of the food served in bad. They feel the food
has mud, is not cooked properly, and has broken pieces. 29 data collectors felt it was
good on the day of observation (presumably this was bread).
3. Bread vs Other food: All the communities where bread is given as food at AWCs are not
happy with the bread; they feel the children should be served cooked food.
"Children's health will not improve by giving two slices of bread."
"They have to change the food — every day children should be given milk and
food."
But in AWCs where the food is cooked and served, most of the communities feel that
the quality of raw material and the way it is cooked is bad.
" The laddu is mixed in the hot water. It has black worms and the rice has
white worms. By eating this food our children will die"
nIf the children eat energy food they get dysentery"
2.
Serving: The data collectors have observed that in 23 AWCs children take the food
home. In one centre where the AWW told the observers that she distributed food at
the center; they saw her fill it into the children ’s containers at the end of the interview.
AWWs give many reasons for this: There is no water in the centre, the bread is dry, at
home they can eat with milk, coffee, tea or sambar.
" It was different earlier; five years ago they used to give milk."
"Small children can't eat properly, "says one; while other AWWs are aware that food
taken home does not get to the children. ” The children don't even get the bread that
we distribute. Once it reaches home it is shared by all. Instead we should cook and
serve here."
In 22 centres plates were seen. In 8 centres the observers saw AWWs feeding the
children.
3.
Problems: 25 centres had instances where the food was not served to the children
because of transport problem.
4.
Special cases: 27 AWWs say they treat malnourished children by giving more food. 10
have said they don't treat such children differently. In one center 40 kids 0-3 years
came during mealtimes for food (APSA?)
Records:
1.
Interpretation: 20/37 AWWs feel that all the records are required and only one says
she has not understood them. In one center an AWW shared with the observer that she
did not know how to interpret the growth chart because she couldn't see properly at 55
years or read as she was 7 class pass. She was going to record the children's weight and
at home her daughter in law would fill in the book.
2.
Essential records: There are 22 records that the AWW has to maintain. Most centers
do have these records. Almost all the AWWs knew the names of the registers that
they had to maintain. The records most easily recollected by the AWWs — which
therefore suggest what she sees as important — include: staff attendance, children's
attendance, injection list, Balavikasa Samithi list, meeting book, finance book. 5 AWWs
have said that only the staff/children ’s attendance register and the food registers are
essential.
3. In many AWCs the children are marked present in the attendance register even though
they are absent. An AWW has reported that her honorarium will be deducted for the
food expenses of the children who are marked absent; and that is why she will mark full
attendence.
"In the children's attendence register from Jan to June there is complete
attendance; absence of even one child is not mentioned."
4.
The data collectors feel that the data in the records don't correlate with the reality in
most cases — especially attendance of the children and the staff, lactating mother's
list, medicines list.
" Though the A WW was absent on day of observation the record showedpresent
for her."
"The name of women in the pregnant women's register doesn't appear in the lactating
mother's list."... "some say the pregnant women go to their mother's house for
delivery and that is why it is not maintained."
“In the community meeting, women who's names were mentioned in the pregnant and
lactating mother's register said they had not registered their names or taken food
even a single day".
" The growth record shows the kids have put on 250-500gm per month for all
months"
" daily duties register has same details on all the days."
"visitors book has no record after 2001"
5. The list of medicines has not been maintained for several years in some centers, since
1989, or 2001. The registers are improperly maintained with no details of usage.
The AWW in Elavalli didn't know that they get a first aid box or medicines.
6.
Maintenance: Where are the records kept? Most records were kept in the AWC. In one
center, it was in the AWW’s home. In one center the AWW said she had lent two books
to a neighbouring AWW who had lost them to “copy" I In one center they are being
redone as the rats and roaches have spoiled them.
7.
Most communities feel that AWW spends more time in writing records rather than
teaching.
Monaqement and Administration
1. Age of center: 17/37 centres are less than a year old. 15/37 are between 6-10
years old.
2. Functioning of center: How many centers were open on the day of observation?
3. Timings: The data collectors have observed that 24 AWCs are open between 9 to 10
a.m. In most centers the mothers want longer hours. Some women have said that
they are ready to pay money if the teacher stays till evening.
"Mothers go to coolie at 8 am, so it will be of help if the A WC is open by
then. It should be open till 4.30."
"The center should be open between 10-2 pm"
4. Presence of staff: How many times did observers have to go to meet the AWW?
What time did the AWW/helper come?
"Teacher comes at 12.30 gives food and goes back by 1.00 dock bus."
5.
Absence: Who helps when the staff are both absent? 14 AWWs say that school
people/other anganwadis/ Balavikasa samithi help; and 9 say they close the center.
(How do others help - by collecting/distributing food/marking attendance?)
6.
Dept books'. From one center we come to know that the Dept has given many books on health, community work, duties of an AWW, preschool ed, record keeping. Are
these there with all centers?
7. Relationship with schools and creches:
a. 32 AWCs have reported to have a government school near by.
b. Most of AWCs do not have another cr&che near by. Only 3 AWCs have
reported to have private cr&ches and 5 have reported to have government
AWCs nearby. Sometimes the mothers compare the government run creches
with the nearby NGO-run ones which are better. AWWs also feel that the
attendance of kids at their center drops when NGOs start private
preschools in the area.
c. 21 AWWs say they have good relationship with the nearby schools and the
cr&ches. Is the interaction limited to school admission as one observer has
recorded?
8. Management: 33 of the observed centres were run by the Department and 10 by the
State Social Welfare Board. Was any difference between these noted?
Community-AWC relationship:
The AWW is meant to reach out to the community through home visits. The Balavikasa
is an institution
Samithi, which has representatives from the community as well as the
for their joint management of the ^NC.
1.
Home visits: 20/37 AWWs say they visit a maximum of 2 houses in a day. 9/37 say
they do not make house visits. This could be due to the fact that some AWWs live
far away and are in a rush to get back home. The location of the AWC also makes a
difference. Two AWWs find alcoholic husbands at home during home visits as a
problem.
The community feels: "Theygo for house visits once in 2-3 months. Even in that
they visit houses of people whom they know."
n You can ask anybody She has never talked to us about women's health nor has she
done house visits"
"Earlier the A WC was run near the village center. Then the A WW used to interact
with the people. Now it is on the outskirts and it has become very inconvenient for
her"
The observers noted in one center: "The A WW said she visits two houses everyday.
Out of three days that we visited she came with us on one day; the other 2 days
she was in a hurry to go home."
2. Most of the AWW know about Balavikasa samithi. 4/37 does not know about it.
The AWWs feel the responsibilities of the Samithi include:
" To help in work related to A WC. To take the responsibility of the A WC when both
helper and worker are not there. To help us while weighing the children, during
health checkups, and to find place to run the A WC"
"This samithi is helpful for pregnant and lactating mothers as we can talk to them
about the well being of children. It is good, if we need leave and are not able to
inform the office we can inform this samithi"
"Their work is to collect food stock when the center is not working and give it to the
teacher later. To take care of any problem that arises in the center. And to observe
the attendance and cleanliness of children coming to the center."
"If the A WC has problems they help. They send children from A WC to schools. They
help in distributing nutritious food, and during immunization"
3. Awareness and participation of the community in the AWC
Since the Balavikasa Samithi has only a few representatives from the community,
the community at large is not always aware of functioning of the AWC. They often
feel the AWW should ask for what she needs. In some cases they feel it is the
government’s role to run the AWC. As with any body empowered to monitor, the
community too can get hostile.
"It is the government's responsibility to do it. Now that our children are not
studying why should we help?"
” We don't give any kind of help. She will no t ask for any help. They get money from
panchayat to buy firewood.M
” If there are any problems the A WW doesn't tell us. If she asks we willgive her
tomatoes, vegetables and other help."
"You have come, on behalf of us you tell the teacher that the community willgive
her 15 days time. If she works properly it is fine. Otherwise we know how to teach
her a lesson.H
18/37 AWWs have said that the community is “cooperative". The participation of
the community in the functions and meetings and their distributing sweets is often
the form of interaction between the AWC and the community. However there are
also active ways in which the community has helped. In 10 centres of Bangalore
(rural) the community contributes firewood.
"People from panchayat visit the center frequently and have built the compound
around the anganwadi center."
"Theygive firewood, build the building. If the A WWand the helper have
differences they solve it."
"They come to all the meetings. They are constructing a building for the A WC"
An observer feels: ”In the five community meetings in different parts of Bangalore
that we held, none of the communities said they knew the functions of the A WC and
the A WW. The communities didn't how the A WWis appointed.H
4.
What does the community expect of the AWC?
Community feels that children who have been to anganwadi fare better at
school. They say that children don’t cry when they have to go to the school
if they are used to the anganwadi, as they would have also have learnt to sit
at a stretch in one place.
Wherever women were working (in most cases), they find the anganwadi very
helpful. They see it as a safe place to leave children when they are at work.
Even those women at home find it helpful, as they can complete daily chores
when children are away.
"Whether children like it or not we leave the children at the center because we
have work like collecting firewood, taking cows for grazing.M
"Children have learnt to sing, tell stories, their name, to speak well, to eat on
their own * "They should know their place and learn good behaviour."
However, they would like the center to be open for longer hours.
They would like the food to be better quality
They would like children to be taught reading and writing.
They don't like the attitude of the AWW/helper at times. They don't like
her not cleaning the children or scolding them. They don't like her
absence/coming late.
- Several community members felt that the AWW makes off with the food.
"They hinted that she takes with her raw materia! in her bag "jenu kithavaru
kai nekkade eirthareye (wouldn't the person plucking honey Hck his hand)
"the teacher is not good. 5he comes by 12.30 p.m and goes back by 1.15 bus.
"While going her bag will be fat (bloated). We have cautioned her, as we don't
want her in our village. We have also caught her red handed while taking food
home. But still she doesn't have maryade (respect.)"
"In a community meeting one of the panchayat members said that it would
have been nice if he could have married an A WW."
- Communities feel that providing infrastructure to the MNC is the
responsibility of the State. They would like the government to provide a
proper building, good food, toilets, outdoor space and toys. They are open to
monitoring the functions.
- Media
SDA-RF-CH-4A.3.pdf
Position: 717 (10 views)