IND 199 ECDE Baseline - CARE International's Electronic ...

23 CHAPTER – I4 INTRODUCTIONThis chapter gives the background of the “Early Childhood Care and Development Project”(ECCD), implemented by CARE in Chattisgarh. It covers objectives of the Project and thisbaseline survey.5 1.1 Background of “Early Childhood Care and Development Project”CARE has mainly been involved in initiating interventions in the field of health, education andlivelihood to improve life opportunities for women and children. Their past interventions havefocused on maternal health and strengthening preschool education to improve children’sschool readiness. Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) is the oldest and largestprogramme of the Government of India which aims to build holistic development of childrenages below six years of age. It mainly focuses on health and nutrition needs and has acomponent of pre-school education for children aged 3-6 years.CARE-India fulfilled this need of the ICDS programme in their project “Early Childhood Careand Development Project’ (ECCD). This project implemented in Chattisgarh focuses towardsstrengthening five domains – Health, Nutrition, Care & Development, Rights & Protection andEconomic strengthening and works with 5 levels – Child, Anganwadi Centre, Caregiver,Community and National. The main objectives of the project are:1. To strengthen status of ECCD component of ICDS with a view to ensure health and psycho– social well-being of children less than 6 years of age.2. To promote understanding, skills and capabilities of workers / stakeholders, family andcommunity members to meet the psychological , physical & social development needs ofthe children below the age of six years during each sub – stage of early childhood years(prenatal , birth to 3 years , 3-6 years), and3. To enhance the skills and competencies of functionaries in effective implementation of ECDcomponent of ICDS.Thus, the intervention, in this project, will address the holistic needs of the child and primarycaregivers and also will work towards ensuring key rights of child. These interventions willbe made at ICDS centre and home level to reach out to different sets of childrenand their caregivers.6 1.2 Objectives of the baseline surveyThe objectives of the baseline study are:1. To estimate the current levels of age-related health, nutrition and cognitive developmentindicators of children aged 3-3.5 years and 5-5.5 years. For children in the ages of 5- 5.5years, it will also estimate the indicators related to school readiness.