Union WCD Minister launches “Poshan Bhi, Padhai Bhi”, an Early Childhood Care and Education program under Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0

Source:  The post is based on the article “Union WCD Minister launches “Poshan Bhi, Padhai Bhi”, an Early Childhood Care and Education program under Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0” published in PIB on 12th May 2023

What is the News?

The Union Minister for Women and Child Development has launched the government’s flagship program ‘Poshan Bhi, Padhai Bhi’.

What is the Poshan Bhi, Padhai Bhi program?

Poshan Bhi, Padhai Bhi will focus on Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) at Anganwadi across the country.

– Note: ECCE is an important component of Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 (Mission Poshan 2.0) and is envisaged under the National Education Policy.

The aim of the program is to 1) transform Anganwadi centres into not just nutrition hubs but also education-imparting centers and 2) make these Anganwadi centres a space for pre-school learning and holistic development with special focus on children aged 3 to 6 to make them school ready for grade 1. 

Nodal Training Institute: The National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development (NIPCCD) will provide training for Anganwadi workers.

Features: The ECCE program will prioritize education in the mother tongue, aligning with the principles of the New Education Policy.

– Under the program, every child would be provided with at least two hours of high-quality preschool instruction daily.

Funding: The Ministry has allocated Rs 600 crore for the training of Anganwadi Workers (AWW) to effectively implement ECCE.