On Tuesday, the government introduced a national protocol to train anganwadi workers in monitoring and assisting children with disabilities. According to Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani, this marks the first time that anganwadi workers will raise awareness on the issue.
Irani described it as a “silent revolution in our community” during the launch of the Anganwadi Protocol for Divyang Children. She emphasized changing the mindset, stating that disability is an opportunity for society to help a child, not a challenge. Irani also highlighted the National Education Policy-2020’s focus on integrating divyang students into mainstream schools.
The grassroots-level data about divyang children collected by anganwadi workers will be available, and the Poshan tracker will help further track these children. The anganwadi eco-system, reaching over eight crore children daily from birth to six years, serves as a critical access point for building the foundation of the country’s children, according to the Women and Child Development Ministry.
The National Curriculum Framework for Foundational Stage 2022 provides recommendations for addressing developmental delays and disabilities in schools, offering guidance on recognizing signs and symptoms.