Brief Report of the National Seminar on 'Feeding the Child'

The problematic areas in child feedoing, particularly the poor infrastructure for the Anganwadis was highlighted. The consensus was that despite all these shortcomings there must be an expansion of Anganwadis to meet the norms laid down by the Supreme Court. Apprehension was expressed that the feeding programme was diluting the importance of early childhood education and other activities that were the mandate of the Anganwadis. The consensus was that once the decentralized kitchens, run by Self Help Groups and Mahila Mandals consisting of women from within the beneficiary community, were established and stabilized the Anganwadi worker and helper would be free to concentrate on other areas.