The Case of Closed Anganwadi Centre

Khijuriya is a revenue village under Fatehpur panchayat, in Jamtara district. The village has a mixed population comprising of tribal, non-tribal, backward castes and minorities. Even though the village is in proximity to Fatehpur block, delivery of services and entitlements to the community is poor. In the absence of proper health facilities, the people of the community have to cover a distance of around 40 kms to reach Jamtara or Dumka to avail adequate health facilities.

The Angawadi centre in the village used to remain closed in the absence of the Anganwadi Sevika. The community had to struggle for basic maternal and child health services like, pre-natal care and post-natal care check-up at village level, health check-up of adolescent girls, mostly for anaemia, vaccination, distribution of nutrition supplements etc.

Majority of the residents are tribal who are dependent on subsistence agriculture. Non-functioning of Anganwadi centre was an additional burden on the community as they had to spend on those basic services that could have easily been availed at the village level if the Aanganwadi was functional. Besides, there was a constant risk of getting treated by fake doctors and putting their lives at risk. The regular absence of the Anganwadi Sevika, Suhagani Marandi and Sahaika, Sonamuni Pawriya was identified as a matter of concern by the village Gram Sabha and the community decided to address it.

It all started when the Panchayat facilitator, Md. Rafique Ansari started the community engagement process in the village. During the meetings, the community was explained on the concept of local self- governance and panchayati raj. They were motivated to revive the meetings of the Gram Sabha. Members of community-based organizations, mostly SHGs, were suggested to come forward and take the lead. The meetings did not result in arriving at a consensus, however, around 40 women stood up and spoke firmly to the Anganwadi Sevika regarding the gross negligence and warned her of reporting the matter up to the concerned CDPO. In addition to this they also instructed her to bring these issues in the gram sabha meeting and sent a recommendation from the gram sabha to remove the Aanganwadi worker for her misconduct. As a result, the Anganwadi centre in the village has now become functional and opens every day. The action has boosted the morale and confidence of the women who now believe that focussed collaborative action yields results and have realised the role of the gram sabha.