“Chidiya karti chir chir chir…” 4-year-old Savia recites a poem she learned at an Anganwadi center in Jamia Nagar, pronouncing each word perfectly. Her mother, Nazia Parveen, sits nearby as Savia’s brother, Dilshad, tries to remember the poem but switches to counting instead. Meanwhile, 1-year-old Faizan, who is also attending the center, attempts to prop himself up with his tiny hands.
Normally, the children would receive a nutritious cooked meal at the center, but due to a government order citing heat wave conditions, all Anganwadi centers in Delhi are closed until June 30. Despite the closure, workers are required to deliver packaged dry rations door to door.
In one hub in Okhla, workers and helpers cover one block each, delivering packages by 11 am. Typically, children at the centers are taught basics like letters, words, and numbers, in addition to receiving hot meals. Workers also maintain monthly progress reports for each center.
In Saket, an experienced Anganwadi worker waits for families to collect the packaged food. Priyambada Sharma, from the Anganwadi Workers and Helpers Union, notes that workers are under immense pressure, not only delivering food but also conducting a population survey for the government, sometimes responsible for over 2,000 people.
Workers are supposed to work from 9 am to 2 pm but often work longer hours. They express frustration over the lack of basic facilities at the centers, such as drinking water and fans, which they must bring from home.
Vrishali, another union member, highlights the collective demand for relief for Anganwadi workers and helpers due to the heat wave conditions, emphasizing the need for their well-being.
