Spinning Action into Words

Sudha Kumari, Darbhanga, Bihar

Across Bihar, change has been palpable, a change triggered from the top policy levels rather than a response to demands from the ground, from advocacy or lobby groups for specific issues. This impetus is significantly evident in the field of Education. Scores of posts of teachers lying vacant have been filled in a time-bound manner involving Panchayati Raj institutions and Nagar Nigams in the process.  There has been an unprecedented urgency in the construction of school buildings. The girls in Bihar in particular were given a boost through the extensive distribution of cycles and uniforms.   According to sources, a staggering 36,81,000 girls have been covered under the programme for school uniforms and 13,60,000 are included under the ambitious and innovative ‘Mukhya Mantri Cycle Yojana’.

The attention to detail is striking.  The school structures coming up have adequate provisions for toilets, drinking water, playgrounds as well as sports materials apart from study aids; all of which are crucial to the building of young minds and bodies. The role of anganwadis across the state has been significant in nurturing young minds and bodies in village hamlets, often despite severely limited resources.

A case in point is Bhaotora village, under the ‘Sindhiya’ panchayat just south of Madhubani district also straddling Darbhanga district, both large populated areas.  An ordinary village for all practical purposes, except that here too, as in many ‘unknown’ villages across Bihar, the anganwadi has done remarkable work over the years, motivating village folks to send their children to school, caring for young ones.

In Madhubani district for example, Gunza Farzana is the Aanganwadi ‘ Sevika’ in Kendra no.78. Evidently devoted to her work, she proudly talks about how the anganwadi has made a difference to the 40 children under her care. From providing nutritious meals of ‘khichri’ and ‘chokha’ (a flat pancake made of lentils) to counseling and caring for pregnant women, it is a valuable input into strengthening society at the grassroots, of tuning them to the change they should expect and be part of.

It is this pool of children backed by hundreds of Sevikas like Farzana that have prepared the ground for the change we see in Bihar today.  In a way, Nitish Kumar credited for triggering and sustaining this momentum is reaping the benefits of the seeds sown over the decades by anganwadi centers and their ‘Sevikas’.

There is yet another invaluable role that these ‘little schools’ are now playing; the issuing of birth registration certificates.  Anyone even slightly familiar with the rural scenario would know what an onerous challenge this can be.  Many births are still not institutionalized; awareness of its critical importance remains minimal.  Village folk had to travel long distances to the Darbhanga court to register.  Giving the Aanganwadi Sevikas, the responsibility of issuing birth certificates within their area was a masterstroke by the government authorities.  At the local level, the community is close-knit, leaving precious little chance of any birth falling off the radar. 

The aanganwadi is a small operation but has immense significance.  Farzana says that what draws the children to the centre; what motivates parents to send them are clearly the facilities provided by the government.  Mid-day meal of course is a big attraction but so are the items like slates, pencils, board; all which makes learning an enjoyable and wholesome experience. This is where the tiny tots grasp the basics of learning, of being part of an education system, a foundational step.

Of the staggering 50 lakh children linked to the anganwadi system, some 25 lakh children below the age of 6 years in more than 60,000 centres across the state are benefiting from these educational building blocks imparted by anganwadis. The government and indeed all sections of our society need to recognise the yeoman service and salute the spirit and sincerity of hundreds and thousands of Sevikas who have, in fact, powered the juggernaut of Education in Bihar today. 

Charkha Features

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