Goa’s Women & Child Development Minister Vishwajit Rane is spearheading a comprehensive overhaul of the state’s Anganwadi system, elevating these foundational early childhood centres from basic rented or dilapidated structures to modern, permanent hubs of learning and care under the Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 frameworks, addressing longstanding safety and operational gaps while integrating technology to nurture the next generation.
Saksham Anganwadi & Poshan 2.0: Infrastructure Upgrades for Lasting Impact
Rane has prioritized transforming Anganwadis from temporary rented premises—many in unsafe, crumbling buildings—into cluster-based owned facilities, appealing to MLAs across parties to identify and donate suitable land for construction, ensuring dedicated spaces with proper ventilation, sanitation, and play areas to safeguard children’s health and development. This move aligns with national Saksham guidelines for resilient infrastructure and Poshan 2.0’s focus on nutrition delivery, aiming to serve Goa’s 25,000+ children under 6 through enhanced anganwadi gardens, cooking units, and growth monitoring tools.
Digital Leap: E-Learning Pilot with Siemens & ConveGenius
In a forward-thinking step, Rane launched a pilot digital e-learning program partnering with Siemens and ConveGenius, equipping select Anganwadis with interactive tablets and apps for age-appropriate learning modules on nutrition, hygiene, and early literacy, bridging urban-rural divides in a state where 40% of children attend these centres. The initiative trains workers in tech use, promising scalable rollout to foster cognitive growth amid Goa’s rising digital literacy push.
Worker Welfare: Free Health Check-Ups for 1,200+ Anganwadi Staff
Recognizing frontline heroes, Rane introduced free executive health check-ups for over 1,200 Anganwadi workers, screening for diabetes, hypertension, and cervical cancer via Swasth Mahila camps, boosting morale and retention in a cadre vital for Poshan 2.0’s supplementary nutrition and ICDS services, with plans to standardize remuneration per central guidelines.
Challenges Ahead: Connectivity, Training & Permanent Shift
Rane acknowledges hurdles like poor rural connectivity hindering digital tools, ongoing training needs for 3,000+ workers, and the massive task of transitioning 500+ rented centres to owned ones amid land scarcity, yet his roadmap—₹126 Cr 2023-24 budget for ICPS/creches—promises phased upgrades, ensuring equitable early childhood care.
Vision for Tomorrow: Nari Shakti at the Core
Rane’s reforms empower women workers as community anchors, fostering a Viksit Goa where Anganwadis nurture holistic growth, reducing malnutrition and school dropouts for sustainable development.
