DOI: 10.36347/sjahss.2015.v03i02.005

Pages: 379-383

Realizing the great importance of bringing improvement in children and women’s health and nutritional status, Integrated Child Development Services (ICSD) Scheme was launched on 2nd October 1975. The scope of present study is to assess the physical infrastructure at Anganwadi centres in rural Punjab. In order to achieve the stipulated objectives of the present study, all three ICDS projects operating in Barnala district were selected. The ICDS projects so selected were Barnala, Sehna, Meha lKalan. Further 10 Anganwadis each from Barnala, Sehna and Meha lKalan ICDS project were selected randomly. In order to reach out the ultimate sampling units, 30 Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) were selected by selecting one worker each from sample Anganwadi. It was found that high majority (90%) of AWCs were not running in their own buildings. About 70% of the centres were found to be located in pucca buildings. One third (30%) of AWCs had adequate sewage disposal system and physical surroundings. It was sad to find that a very high majority (93.33%) of the AWCs did not have sufficient three rooms space as per recommended norms. Shockingly, a majority 76.66% of AWCs did not have any storage space to store the SN ration. In view of this the study has recommended that as far as possible AWC should be built with community involvement, be of low cost design using local materials and indigenous construction techniques.