A series of Infant, Toddler and Caregiver-friendly Neighbourhood (ITCN) interventions have transformed an Anganwadi Centre (AWC) at Manoharpura in Udaipur into a model Urban95 programme Anganwadi. The said interventions aim to make the centre an engaging, safe, hygienic and interactive space of small children and was implemented by the Udaipur Municipal Corporation (UMC) in collaboration with the Bernard Van Leer Foundation (BvLF) with technical support from Urban95 Project Management Unit (a joint venture between ICLEI South Asia and Ecorys India Pvt. Ltd).

The interventions include numerous interactive and engaging floor and wall paintings including shapes, colours and numbers on the floor of the Anganwadi room, floor games in various corridors and other available spaces, wall paintings in corridors narrating thoughtful yet easy to understand stories on keeping oneself clean and other interactive paintings  installation of an interactive pulley-based solar system and  games such as an Abacus integrated within the newly installed MS railing sanitation and safety measures, refurbishment of play equipment, and construction of a shoe stand, a seating platform and wash basin of appropriate heights. The team implemented these simple yet impactful changes to encourage regular attendance by children and to increase enrollment at the Anganwadi.

The redesigned center was inaugurated by children and Anganwadi staff in the presence of Ms. Kirti Rathod, Deputy Director, Integrated Child Development Services, and Ms. Ragini Damor, Deputy Commissioner, UMC in February. Lauding the initiative, Ms. Rathod said, “We’ll make sure to replicate few of these elements, especially the floor paintings, interactive solar system and floor games in all AWCs under my jurisdiction in coordination with UMC,” while Ms. Damor said, “Young children will learn more from these interactive installations, paintings and games, than by just reading about the same.”

Anganwadis are part of the ICDS programme run by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, and provide educational and nutritional support to vulnerable children, as well as pregnant and lactating women during and after pregnancy. The Urban95 programme aims to examine various models through the implementation of semi-permanent projects at Anganwadis that are successfully reaching out to targeted audiences, but are facing challenges such as a lack of open/ play spaces and engaging physical activities.