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On Wednesday, Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani said the government is preparing Anganwadi workers under its Early Childhood Care (ECCE) and learning modules to transform the rural childcare centres across the country into education hubs for children between the age of 3 to 6.

Minister spoke about the training programme during the launch event of ECCE modules named- Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi, adding that her ministry comprised an ECCE Task Force, which submitted its report this year. "Its proposals included capacity-building via a 3-day in-person training, fresh Teaching Learning Material (TLM), follow-up refresher training, including activity books and toys, and a workshop on use and creation of toys," she said.

"Jointly with state-level planning and monitoring, it also reaches for community involvement in a Jan Andolan via monthly ECCE days and additional activities under Poshan 2.0," Minister added. As described by UNESCO, Early Childhood Care (ECCE) is the "holistic development of a child's social, emotional, cognitive and physical conditions to build a solid and comprehensive foundation for lifelong learning and wellbeing."

She said Early Childhood Care material was dispatched in the year 2013 too, but no training was provided to the Anganwadi workers then. "Communities were also not involved, and parents were not consulted. The error of the earlier UPA (United Progressive Alliance) government is not recited. That is why we are providing training to every Anganwadi worker," she said. Irani stated that Rs 600 crores are suggested to be allocated for the whole training procedure. She said audio-visual and learning materials had been tested in nearly seven states.

Minister informed that 1.5 million parents actively participated in this measure to test the material. More than 10,000 communities with over one lakh community-driven projects and activities were carried out. The ministry under the Office of the Secretary WCD also accomplished online conferences and physically meeting with state government representatives in order to guarantee that the training programme to be prepared with regards to 'Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi' is not accomplished in isolation by the government.

Irani said the purpose is not to make Anganwadi centres nutrition hubs but also education-providing centres. For disabled children, Irani said she appealed that material, especially for Divyang children, be done in a cooperative attempt between the Ministry of Social Justice and ministries in states. "So that Anganwadi helps workers not only help counsel parents so that their children can come to Anganwadi but can also help create new methodologies of engaging with children who are divyang with regards to early childhood development," she said.