Suggestions

♤ Adequate space should be provided to accommodate the enrolled children and the Centers should be located at a convenient and hygiene friendly area of the locality.

♤ AWC accommodation should be equipped with proper facilities viz. sanitation facilities, safe drinking water, toilets, sufficient medicines, electricity/power supply, playing instruments/toys, etc. The centers should be protected with boundary walls or barbed wires.

♤ Adequate number of workers should be engaged in each AWC. The monthly honorarium fixed for AWC workers/helpers seems to need enhancement. Further, the AWC workers should not be deployed for other works.

♤ Regular training should be provided to AWC workers and their supervisors. Further they should get refresher training to handle registers and other records independently.

♤ Doctors should visit AWCs regularly.

♤ AWCs should keep complete health records of all the children enrolled with them. At present, AWCs are required to maintain around 30 registers which appears to be too many. Review should be carried out to reduce/minimize their number.

♤ The mothers of the malnourished children should be provided regular counselling.

♤ On the spot monitoring and supervision of centers should be done by the Block and District level Officers regularly.

♤ Food provided at AWCs should be of good qualities and nutrition. Enhancement of financial norms may increase the quality of AWC food. Provision of LPG gas for cooking purpose may also be supplied to every AWC.