Dipti Signal residents welcome reopening of anganwadis

Nagpur: Rameshwari Patel is into her ninth month of pregnancy with the expected due date being in the last week of October, and for her the news about anganwadis reopening on Monday is a welcome one.

"The didi here would visit me regularly and check whether I have been following the doctor's advise about food and taking rest. I am leaving for my mother's home for the delivery soon and was a bit worried that since last month the anganwadi right across my house had been shut," said the 26 year-old.

Along with Rameshwari, many other pregnant and young mothers at Dipti Signal area near Kalmna market, heaved a sigh of relief as the news spread on Saturday that anganwadi workers have called off their strike.

The locality is home to thousands of people from the weaker socio-economic background and the densely populated area is a mix of dwellings that are somewhere between a slum and a pucca house. Some have brick walls and asbestos roofs, some have a proper slab but entire house is less than 200 square feet with bare necessities.

Within these congested by-lanes lie couple of anganwadis whose doors have been locked for almost a month.

The anganwadi sevika becomes a friend and adviser for pregnant women who is available right at their door step. Yashodha Shahu, into her fifth month of pregnancy, said, "Doctors are available but we have to go to them, stand in long queues and many times we hesitate to ask questions. With the didis it is never an issue to discuss our doubts as they are like elder sisters. Also, anganwadis are located very close to our house we can go any time during the day and chat with them."

For young mothers, anganwadis provide their little kids with two vital things — food and pre-schooling education. "My one and three-year-old kids loved the khichdi served here every afternoon. Also, the elder one spent two hours daily at the anganwadi where the didi teaches him alphabets and shows them pictures of animals and plants etc," said 25 year-old Revati Verma.

Though the families here are not so poor and they'll not starve without food coming from the anganwadi, there is no denying that anything extra for them is always a big help.

Anganwadi sevika Jyoti Undersahare said, "Their kids come here and spend the day which helps them complete their household chores without having to worry about babysitting. We have become an integral part of their families as kids trust us, love us and the parents to value our advice."