After a monthlong hiatus, anganwadis open doors

Nagpur: The hot khichdi being served to five-year-old Mayank More is fast disappearing as he gorges on the tasty treat that's been off his daily menu for almost a month.

The anganwadi at Gondkheri (Hingna taluka) opened its door after a month-long strike and two other dozen kids like More flocked here to relish nutritious food and also spend time with their friends. Kalpana Shevale, sevika at the anganwadi said, "They eat happily when they are surrounded by other kids. For many of these village kids, this is the best food they will have in the entire day. During the strike, these little ones missed out on breakfast and lunch that our anganwadis provide."

The serving of lunch also meant end of the working day at the village's anganwadi and parents stood almost next to their kids, who enjoyed the food while seated on a platform built around a large banyan tree.

Payal Mhere, mother of two, said, "My daughter was getting impatient for the last one month as she missed this atmosphere. Since she would not understand what a strike meant, I told her that anganwadi had closed for Diwali holidays. It was such a relief when, on Monday, the sevikas came to our locality and informed that they are reopening."

Sarita Survase, mother of a 4-year-old, said "This long strike means that my child has forgotten all that he learnt here in school. Here, daily the sevikas take care of their pre-schooling education which is a big help when they go to STD I."

For another parent, Anita Serkhude, the problem for past few weeks was how to keep her son occupied. "He would throw tantrums because he missed the fun with other kids and the games they play with sevikas at anganwadi. He wanted to come here. So, I told him that his teachers (sevikas) have gone home for Diwali," said Serkhdue.

About 12 kilometres away from Gondkheri, new mother Rakhi Sheshrao (name changed), was delighted on seeing the anganwadi at Durga Nagar (Hingna road) open. She wanted to measure and record the weight of her almost four-month-old daughter but had been disappointed in the last few weeks with the anganwadi doors being shut due to strike.

Accompanied by her mother-in-law, she soon trotted in with the baby to check on the child's progress. Varsha Mankar-Kokate, sevika of anganwadi, said, "We are the first point of contact for new mothers as they feel comfortable discussing many things with us. During the strike, we were getting daily calls from people asking when we will open as lot of information about pregnancy and post-pregnancy is given here."

Shashikala Waikar, mother of an 18-month-old, said "I needed to get information about my child's vaccination schedule for the next year and other nutritional information. Initially, we were all very worried as some people said that the strike could drag on for months."

Shyam Kale, a trade union leader, who represents major chunk of anganwadi workers, said it's high time people realize the important role his members play in the society. Kale said, "During the strike period there were some who blamed anganwadi workers for over hundred deaths that happened across the state. If that is the case then let us also calculate how many lives we saved during the four decades of anganwadis operating."