Changing role of Anganwadi workers, a study conducted in Vadodara district.

The Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS), was initiated nearly 35 years ago, in October 1975, in response to the evident problems of persistent hunger and malnutrition especially among children. The role of Anganwadi Worker (AWW) MahilaMandal and Village Health Committee. To understand this changing roles, the present study was initiated with the objective to study the changing role of Anganwadi worker in present scenario. METHODThe study was a cross sectional study. It was conducted at Wagodiya block of Vadodara district which is situated in central Gujarat. It was a purposive sampling and convenient selection. The Wagodiya block has 124 Anganwadis. It was decided to select 25% of Anganwadis from each PHC of Wagodiya block, so that the sample represents all the geographic areas. RESULTSTotal 30 (25%) Anganwadi were visited. The mean age of Anganwadi workers was 33.8 years (range – 20-53 years). Almost 87% Anganwadi workers were from same village where the Anganwadi is located. All the AWWs were getting incentive for participation or serving in National Health Programme apart from ICDS. Almost 80% AWWs participated in other National Health Programmes like PPI, house to house survey, selection of patients for TL in family planning programme etc. 67% AWWs worked as DOT provider for Tuberculosis patients. 33% AWWs believed that they had a load or cannot give enough time to basic activity at Anganwadi due to participation in other National Health Programmes. DISCUSSION The anganwadi worker and helper, who are the basic functionaries of the ICDS, are not treated on a par with other government employees, but are called "social workers" or "voluntary workers". They are not paid "wages" (which would provide them with some minimum service conditions) but only an "honorarium" 2 . The present study suggest the AWWs are overworked and not able to justify their routine work. The government health authorities and other authorities need to keep in mind that they have generated second similar cadre in each village that is ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) under National Rural Health Mission (NRHM). They should be utilized properly. So the AWWs will cater the services as per need of community. INTRODUCTION: The Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS), was initiated nearly 35 years ago, in October 1975, in response to the evident problems of persistent hunger and malnutrition especially among children 1,5 . Since then, ICDS has grown to become the world's largest early child development programme 2 . Each Anganwadi is catering to population of around 1,000 in rural and urban areas and to around 700 in tribal areas 3,5 . The Anganwadi Worker and helper, are the basic functionaries of the ICDS. They are not government employees, but are called "social workers" or "voluntary workers" 2 . Each Anganwadi worker is getting remuneration of around Rs 2500 Per month 5 . Despite this low remuneration, the activities these workers and helpers are required to perform are very extensive 2 . The worker and helper in such centre who receive the paltry "honorarium" are seen as "part-time workers" in the centres that they are supposed to open for only four hours a day. Yet, they have been found to be among the most dedicated and committed of public servants who have developed grassroot contacts and are able to identify particular individuals and groups in any community, easily. The key functions of anganwadi is to provide supplementary nutrition to the children below six years of age and nursing and pregnant mothers from low income families; immunization of all children less than six years of age and immunization against tetanus for all the expectant mothers, provide nutrition and health education to all women in the age group of 15-45 years, as well as basic health check-up, which includes antenatal care of expectant mothers, postnatal care of nursing mothers, care of newborn babies and care of all children under six years of age. They are supposed to be able to refer serious cases of malnutrition or illness to hospitals, Community Health Services (CHS) or