19 August : As a part of the Chandigarh Administration’s Action Plan For Gender Sensitization and Removing Girl Child Discrimination, an Orientation Programme was organized for Anganwari workers in Govt. College for Girls, Sector-11, Chandigarh today. More than four hundred Anganwari workers from the Union Territory participated in the programme.
The Resource-Persons were Dr. Mangla Dogra, Gynaecologist, Dr. Bhavneet Bharti, Assistant Professor, Paediatrics, PGI, Chandigarh and Dr. Prabhjot Malhi, Child Psychologist, PGI, Chandigarh.
Welcoming the Anganwari workers, Mrs. Raji P. Shrivastava, Special Secretary Finance and Director Higher Education, stressed that the basic objective of the Orientation Programme was to sensitize the Anganwari workers on vital issues of gender-discrimination, sex-selective abortion, nutrition, health-care and over-all progress of women and children, to enlist their support and participation and to give voice to their crucial role. She briefed them about the Action Plan of the Chandigarh Administration which is gender sensitive, inclusive, multi-sectoral and participatory. Through intensive IEC (Information, Education and Communication) campaigns, changes can be brought about in retrograde patriarchal mindsets to ensure that our girls enjoy a life of dignity and equal opportunity. The Chandigarh Administration is also committed towards focusing on the vulnerable 0-6 age group which is crucial for advances in healthcare and nutrition, especially in the case of girls who are often the victims of neglect and deprivation. Mrs. Raji P. Shrivastava said that the focus should not only be on ‘Save the Girl Child’, but on ‘Value the Girl Child’. Anganwari workers are a vital and crucial link in the Administration’s efforts to bring about change. Through their daily interactions with women and children at the grass-root level, they not only help to implement various welfare schemes of the Government, but also counsel them on aspects of mental and physical health, nutrition and education.
Mrs. Shrivastava acknowledged the need for greater interactions with anganwari workers and assured them of all help and support from the Administration, especially through more frequent medical camps with gynaecologists and paediatricians to provide expert assistance. She also acquainted them with important contact addresses of the Women and Child Support Unit, Childline, etc. and asked them to come forward with their suggestions and experiences.
Dr. Mangla Dogra, an eminent gynaecologist of the city, focused on the implications of repeated pregnancies and multiple abortions on the health of the mother and child. She gave useful information on low-cost nutritive and high calorie foods. She also answered specific queries of the workers on gynaecological issues and requested them to provide support and medical advice to the women in their area. She admitted that change is a very slow process but asserted that even if each person can convince another to value the girl child, the transformation will surely happen.
Addressing the workers, Dr. Prabhjot Malhi, Additional Professor in Child Psychology at the Advanced Paediatric Centre, PGI Chandigarh, dwelled on the reasons for the rise in female child mortality, which she attributed to gender-inequality in the distribution of food, in providing medical care as well as due to the conscious neglect of girls and the deep rooted strong son-preference. She stated significantly, ‘We talk of daughters in terms of costs, and of sons in terms of value.’ Boys are valued for social, cultural and economic reasons. The status of women, on the other hand, is determined by their ability to bear sons, otherwise they are deemed to be ‘reproductive failures’. Stressing upon the urgent need to educate and empower women, Dr. Malhi exhorted the anganwari workers to continue unabated in their efforts to counsel and advise women.
Dr. Bhavneet Bharti, Assistant Professor at the Advanced Paediatric Centre, PGI Chandigarh, appreciated the vital role of the network of anganwari workers who can be catalysts for change in our society. She appealed them to generate confidence among the vulnerable and malnutritioned women and children, especially girls. She elaborated on nutrition and health-care emphasizing the methods of breast-feeding and psychological support to mothers and the need for special care for children between one to six years. Dr. Bharti stressed that “Many things can wait, but a child cannot wait for tomorrow.”
All the lectures invited a lot of participation and the workers shared their practical experiences. The speakers rendered advice and suggestions, which the workers felt would be of great help to them in the field.
Mrs. Amandeep Kaur, Director Social Welfare, appreciated the huge contribution of the anganwari workers whose work generally goes unnoticed. She urged the 400 anganwari workers present to seek support from the system and reach out to more marginalized groups in their quest for the upliftment of health indicators.
A film “Uska Aana”, screened on the occasion deeply moved the participants as it brought the burning issue of Female-Foeticide into the fore. The issues raised in the film were discussed by the workers very pertinently.
The programme ended with an inspirational song by the students of the Music Vocal Department, which also had the participants humming along with them.
The interaction was fruitful from more than one point of view. The role of the anganwari workers came under well-deserved spotlight. The Administration has decided to step up such interactions. “Regular field visits by medical teams, outreach camps to target adolescent health issues, focus on child nutrition and interactions among grass-root workers, gynaecologists and paediatricians will be stepped up” said Mrs. Raji P. Shrivastava.