Gumla: The Gumla administration has rolled out an initiative to celebrate the birthdays of children at the district’s anganwadi centres (AWCs), envisioning that even poor kids should experience a joyful and secure childhood.A child’s birthday is celebrated in a well-decorated AWC. A cake is cut and birthday songs are sung. Since the initiative’s launch recently, such celebrations have been hosted at 30 AWCs in the presence of anganwadi sevikas, sahayikas, parents, and local panchayat representatives.Gumla district, spread over 12 blocks, has 495 anganwadi centres. “The move also aims at transforming AWCs into centres of attraction for both children and their parents, and at creating an effective, affectionate, secure and positive environment for them,” said an official.“It was really unimaginable for us to host such a memorable event, not only for poor children but also for us, parents and others,” said an anganwadi sevika.The noble approach was conceptualised by Gumla deputy commissioner Prerna Dixit. She told TOI, “Celebrating birthdays at AWCs is a simple yet powerful way to make every child feel valued and included. Our aim is to ensure that AWCs are not just centres for nutrition and early education, but nurturing spaces where children experience joy, confidence, and a strong sense of belonging.”
