STATUS OF PRE-SCHOOL EDUCATION PROGRAM OF ICDS SCHEME IN RURAL RAJASTHAN

Abstract

Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), which has been operating in the all districts of Rajasthan for decades. The present study was carried out to evaluate the pre-school education components of Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) in Rajasthan state of India. In order to achieve the stipulated objectives of the present study, four districts namely  Sikar, Jaipur, Nagaur and Bikaner were selected from Rajasthan state of India. Further 05Anganwadi centres from each selected district were selected based on random sampling. Thus, total 20 Anganwadi Centres were included in the study. From each Anganwadi centres, 03 children each between 3 to 6 years of age were selected randomly. So, total 60 beneficiary children were selected from all 20 Anganwadi centres. The results revealed that more than half 55.00% children did not give any response regarding rote counting. The majority (65%) of children were not able to count and tell the number of given stones. Only 8.33% children could identify 5-6 pictures of vegetables. A few 3.33% children could identify 3 or 4 of the colours by name. Majority (65.00%) children were not able to hold the crayon and were not able to colour inside the shape. The government should take necessary action to be given adequate training to Anganwadi Workers about pre-school education components of ICDS scheme in order to enable them to develop suitable skills for imparting pre-school education more effectively at AWCs.