THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state women and child development department is all set to establish ‘model anganwadis’ across the state, for which Thiruvananthapuram-based Child Development Centre ( CDC ) has submitted a detailed report to health and social justice minister K K Shailaja.Aimed to remove the general notion that anganwadis are just ‘feeding centres’ and to transform them into centres which can play a vital role in nurturing the physical and mental abilities of children, the project, in its first phase will witness establishment of one model anganwadi in all the 14 districts.“Being implemented as part of the department’s integrated child development programme, the model anganwadis will have required infrastructure and a new style of functioning with a focus on children’s overall development,” the minister said in a meeting held here on Friday to analyse the CDC’s report. The report has taken care of all aspects, from the design of anganvadi building to the curriculum, she said.Land for model anganwadis will be identified and facilitated with the help of respective local bodies and voluntary organizations.Though 10 cents are recommended for each centre, the report has also put forth models which can be established on three, five and 7.5 cents of land. The facilities would comprise study room, restroom, dining room, kitchen, store room, multi-purpose hall and a small garden.The CDC’s report has its focus on physical growth and intellectual development of children aged up to six years. It has recommendations on duties and activities of anganwadi staff and on mild physical activities which can create a suitable and pleasant ambience for children.With more focus on pre-school education, additional training programmes in accordance with children’s intellectual development have been envisaged, even while retaining the existing ‘theme-based curriculum’. The CDC will provide training for anganwadi workers.The report has recommended a second edition of the handbook ‘Anganapoomazha’, which could be helpful for children to improve their writing and reading skills, besides detailed suggestions on the layout and contents of pre-school classrooms. It has also recommended a particular uniform for pre-school children in anganwadis. Meanwhile, the ‘model anganwadi’ building has been designed by College of Architecture, Thiruvananthapuram

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