Move Abandoned Children into Adoption in India

Catalysts For Social Action’s (CSA’s) Vulnerability Mapping and Adoption Awareness Project in partnership with the Department of Women and Child Development (DWCD), Indore Division, Government of Madhya Pradesh took off with a Training of Trainers (ToT) event on 25th September. Prior to this, the DWCD and CSA mutually agreed to pilot the project initially in four districts out of the eight which had been originally agreed since this was a unique initiative which the department was undertaking. It was decided that the project would be undertaken in the four remaining districts after evaluating the results and incorporating changes to the design, if deemed necessary.

The ToT event was held in Indore and was attended by about 30 trainers who had been identified to conduct trainings for Anganwadi Workers at the District and Project levels. They included volunteers identified by CSA and officials nominated by DWCD. The Joint Director and Deputy Director of DWCD also attended the event and gave their input and feedback. To help the trainers facilitate the training, and to ensure uniformity and quality of the content being delivered, the training presentation prepared by CSA for use of the trainers was accompanied with a detailed facilitator’s guide which explained each topic to be covered comprehensively. The trainers were taken through the entire training presentation and the facilitator’s guide, and were given tips on the most effective way in which the training could be imparted. This was done through interactive sessions and group activity in which a group of 3-4 trainers were assigned a topic from the training presentation, and made to do a mock training for the rest of the group, which in turn gave them feedback.

The ToT was followed by four training programs (one in each district) for CDPOs, who are the district level supervising officers of Anganwadi Workers. The objective of these training programs was to ensure that the supervisors have clarity about the project and its goals, and are therefore able to guide the Anganwadi Workers reporting to them. These trainings were held at Khandwa on 4th October, Barwani on 5th October, Dhar on 11th October and Indore on 29th November

This was followed by Anganwadi Workers (AWW) trainings at each of the four districts. Till date, a total number of 7873 AWWs have been trained in 51 trainings conducted by CSA in three districts. In one of the districts, the authorities took the responsibility of training AWWs by themselves (Chec below for details). Post training, the AWWs were given a survey form in which they are supposed to fill information of children in need of care and protection (CNCP) in their local areas, and submit to their supervisor. For better coordination with the district authorities, CSA has appointed District Coordinators in each of these districts on a part time basis. They will be responsible for analysis of the survey data and following up with district authorities for further action on cases of CNCP identified. Filled in survey format are yet to be received by the District Coordinators.

Table: District-wise number of trainings conducted and AWWs trained.

District: Khandwa

Anganwadi workers trained: 1683

No of trainings: 9

District: Indore

Anganwadi workers trained: 1590

No of Trainings: 23

District: Dhar

Anganwadi workers trained: 2900

No of trainings: 19

District: Barwani

Anganwadi workers trained: 1700

No of trainings: 0