The anganwadi at Thuraimangalam in Perambalur was buzzing with activity.
Children in the anganwadi are busy playing with toys and other play tools. Colourful posters with vegetables, fruits, animals and science objects are on display. When asked, they say ‘Athichudi’ in Tamil, names of Tamil and English months, nursery rhymes. With children-friendly atmosphere, anganwadis in Perambalur attract a large number of children. Many children, who went to private schools, have come back to these anganwadis, say officials.
Parents of the children at the anganwadi said that children are happily going to anganwadis. They study well and have become healthy with the nutritious food given at the anganwadis.
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There are 490 anganwadis in Perambalur district. Of them, 300 have been supplied with play tools worth Rs.10,000. Out of the 490 anganwadis, 17 are in urban areas, 30 in town panchayats and 443 in rural areas.
These anganwadis take care of 12,000 children. There are 24,390 children in the age group of three months to three years in the district. They are in the supplementary nutrition category. Four hundred and sixty nine pregnant women and 3,437 women in lactation are provided with nutrition and information on how to take care of their children at the anganwadis.
“Sathu maavu” (health mix powder) is given to children from seven months to three years.
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They are provided with 130 grams of ‘sathu maavu.’ Pregnant women and women in lactation are provided with 160 grams of ‘sathu maavu.’ For children who lack nutrition, 190 grams of ‘sathu maavu’ is given.
T. Bhuvaneswari, Programme Co-ordinator of Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS), said that 75 per cent of brain development takes place when the children are below seven years. Stimulation given during this period will improve the brain activity.
So anganwadis provide this stimulation. They contribute to physical development of children, language development, cognitive development, emotional development and social development. Now, a new activity called ‘Aadi paadi vilayadu’ has been introduced in selective centres.