About the “Poshan Bhi, Padhai Bhi” campaign

• It is a pathbreaking ECCE program to ensure that India has the world’s largest, universal, high-quality pre-school network, as suggested by the National Education Policy.

• This unique initiative is aimed at ensuring that India has a high-quality preschool network. 

• ECCE is a signifiacnt component of Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 (Mission Poshan 2.0) and is envisaged under the National Education Policy.

• Target Age Group: Children under 6 years, especially under 3 years.

• The initiative targets children’s development in every domain mentioned in the National Curriculum Framework, like physical and motor development, cognitive development, and socio-emotional-ethical development, among others. 

• Furthermore, it will focus on promoting holistic and quality early stimulation and pre-primary education for children. 

• Additionally, under the initiative, every child would be provided with at least two hours of high-quality preschool instruction on a daily basis.

• National Education Policy: Prioritizes foundational literacy and numeracy with emphasis on Child’s Mother tongue

Recommendations of High-Level Task Force on ECCE (2022)

• “Rebranding of anganwadis” with upgraded infrastructure; 

• Re-designation of Anganwadis workers as Anganwadi teachers, and helpers as childcare workers; Creche facilities for children under 3 years; 

• Develop common curriculum across different models and emphasis on education in child’s mother tongue.

What is Early Childhood?

• It refers to the formative stage of the first six years of life, with well-marked sub-stages and age-specific needs.

What is Anganwadi?

• Anganwadi is a type of rural child care centre that serves as a crucial link between the government and the rural population, particularly pregnant women, new mothers, and children under the age of six. Anganwadi centres provide basic health care, nutrition, and early childhood education services to women and children in their respective villages.

India’s Anganwadi centres playing crucial role in child development

• India Anganwadi centres are an integral part of India’s Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) program.

• The centres provide supplementary nutrition, early care, and education to around 8 crore beneficiary children under the age of 6 years across the country.

• Given the huge network of around 13.9 lakh operational centres, the Anganwadi eco-system becomes a critical access point for building a solid foundation for children in order to secure their future.