Kids meet at Bhopal

Bhopal, Aug 16 : At least 60 children from Bhopal, Vidisha, and Sehore districts of Madhya Pradesh participated in 'Anganwadi Bal Samagam', (children's meet) held at Jawahar Bal Bhawan, here on Monday. About 30 mothers also participated in the same. It was organised for children to listen to them, let them participate, play and also listen to mothers on their views about anganwadi's centres. This 'children's meet' was organised by Department of Women and Child Development in partnership with UNICEF.

Loveleen Kacker, Principal Secretary, Women and Child Development, Government of Madhya Pradesh, Tania Goldner, Chief UNICEF Office for Madhya Pradesh and Anupam Rajan, Director Women and Child Development interacted with children and mothers. They sought their opinion about what is working in anganwadi . Kacker, while interacting with children and mothers, said: "I am here to listen to them including things which are not working." Mothers shared about the benefits they were getting at anganwadi and also shared the problems they were facing. Snehlata Vishwakarma, Anganwadi worker from Vidisha, in her interaction with Tania Goldner of UNICEF, shared she enjoys being with children, listening to them, learning from them and she believes that it is not only about giving children food at anganwadi centre but making them citizens of tomorrow.

A special play by children from Bal Bhawan was presented which highlighted the issue of malnutrition and role of anganwadi's in combating the same and what can parents do to claim their entitlements. In second session children were taught drawing, painting and clay making. They enjoyed with clay and painted their thoughts on paper. Little fingers used paint to portray their thoughts and painted creatures they imagined. Children sang and danced to showcase their talent. R S Raghuvanshi, Director, Bal Bhawan, and Praveen Gangrade, Joint Director Bhopal, Kavita Sharma UNICEF Nutrition Specialist were also present at the meet.