Bhopal, May 17: A novel and original training programme has been prepared for Anganwadi workers jointly by Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNU), Women and Child Development Department and UNICEF. It aims at bringing the health level of women and children at national and world standards. The training would be mainly imparted by IGNU and UNICEF would provide financial and technical assistance. The training programme would be conducted in phased manner at the training centres of Women and Child Development Department.

The training programme would be taken up as a pilot project in Vidisha district. It may be mentioned here that Vidisha is one of the districts included in the fourth phase of Integrated Child Development Project. The malnutrition rate has been found high in some parts of this district. Groups of 40 workers each would be formed for training. There is a target to impart training to all the workers within a year.

The MoU was signed at Mantrayala here today in the presence of Additional Chief Secretary RN Bairwa, Regional Director of IGNU Tiwari, State representative of UNICEF Hamid Al Bashir, Commissioner, Women and Child Development Ms Kalpana Shrivastava and Deputy Secretary Akhilesh Shrivastava.

Ms Kalpana Shrivastava said that the training programme would be different from previous ones in many aspects. It would lay special stress on problems of adolescent girls, women empowerment, violence against women, different schemes of banks, micro finance, self-help groups etc. The facts focused on health of women and children have also been included in the programme, which may lead to fall in maternity and infant mortality rate through nutrition, health facilities and education. Information Technology would be fully made use of in this training. High level reference material besides the literature of EDUSAT, Gyandarshan, Gyanvani would be provided to the Anganwadi workers. Practical training to them would also be ensured.

Tiwari informed that a pilot study would be conducted to ascertain the learning level of trainees prior to the training. A valuation would be made after getting final feedback on completion of the training.