Mewa Rani’s journey for a healthier Haryana
India has over a million local community health workers in the country. In Malab village of Nuh district of Haryana, Village Square met 32 years old health worker Mewa Rani at an Anganwadi centre.
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Anganwadi centres are government-run creches established under the Integrated Child Development Scheme.
One of the major focuses of the program is on providing supplementary nutrition to children under six and to pregnant and lactating women. Along with educating, helping with immunization of both children and women etc.
At the anganwadi centre in Malab village, children come early by 10 am. Food is served first to them, followed by reading poetry and stories in a playful way. In between, Mewa reminds the children of followiing basic hygeines such as taking bath and washing hands well.
Preganant and lactating women in the village often show up for some advice: On spacing between two children, aneami, food they should eat etc.
Mewa reflects on how since she is a villager the children and women trust her with the advice she gives as a health worker. Also, she serves as the first point of source to many in the village for any health realted issues.
Sanskriti Talwar is an independent journalist who writes about gender, human rights and sustainability. She is Rural Media Fellow 2022 at Youth Hub, Village Square.
