Government of India launched Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi (PBPB) initiative on 10^th May, 2023 for upgrading skills of all anganwadi workers to strengthen their capacity to provide early childhood care and education and nutrition service to children below six years of age, including divyang children.

As on 19.03.2025, a total of 36,027 State Level Master Trainers (CDPOs, Supervisors and Additional Resource Persons) and 3,11,299 Anganwadi Workers have been trained across the country to deliver the Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi programme.

Capacity Building of Anganwadi Workers is envisioned as the first step in transforming the Anganwadi into a Learning Centre which should have High-quality infrastructure, play equipment and well trained Anganwadi workers. Under this programme, MWCD focuses on a Two Tier Training Implementation Model. NIPCCD is entrusted with Capacity Building of Anganwadi functionaries under Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi through its Headquarters at New Delhi and five Regional Centres located across the country.

Tier I involves training of State Level Master Trainers (SLMTs), comprising CDPOs, Supervisors & State-Nominated Additional Resource Persons, through NIPCCD Headquarters and its five Regional Centres. They are trained for 2 days, in a hybrid model comprising both online and offline (in person) trainings. Further, Tier II involves 3-day training workshop by SLMTs in physical mode for the Anganwadi workers across the country.

To empower the Anganwadi workers and ensure optimal learning for all children including Divyang children, this Ministry has developed two curriculum frameworks - “Navchetana- National Framework for Early Childhood Stimulation for Children from Birth to 3 Years” and “Aadharshila- National Curriculum for Early Childhood Care and Education for Children from 3 to 6 Years” under Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi programme.

The National framework – “Navchetna” guides engagement inside the home as well as at Anganwadi centres, assisting caregivers in conducting stimulation activities to support and measure a child’s growth and development in the first three years of life. It provides detailed information on the importance of brain development in the first three years, and step by step instructions for caregivers and frontline workers on conducting early stimulation activities. It also focuses on the screening, inclusion and referrals of children with disabilities.

The National Curriculum – “Adharshila” improves the quality of early childhood education transacted at the Anganwadi Centre to all the children of age 3-6 years attending Anganwadi Centres and are beneficiaries, by prioritising competency based lesson plans and activities, covering all learning domains. The document enables easy planning with age appropriate activities and assessments, emphasising the use of indigenous toys and low-cost, no-cost materials. The annual plan is divided into 4+36+8 weeks, that is, 36 weeks of active learning, 4 weeks of initiation, and 8 weeks of reinforcement. Each week is divided into 5+1 days, that is, 5 for introduction and practice of activities and one day for weekly reinforcement. Each day comprises 3 blocks, one for welcome and free play, one for learning and play through activities and one for reflection and closing.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Women and Child Development Smt. Savitri Thakur in Rajya Sabha in reply to a question today.

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SS/MS