G.O Ms No. 171 Dated 10.9.2003 of Social Welfare Dept, Tamil Nadu

Social Welfare and Nutritious Meal Programme Department World Bank Assisted ICDS –III- Upgradation of Pre-School in 5000 Anganwadi Centres into Nursery School (Pre-Primary) by utilising funds under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan –Orders – Issued

From the Project Co-ordinator, World Bank assisted ICDS-III Project Letter.No. 7874 / CTC/ Trg / 2003 dated 15-7-2003

The Government has announced to upgrade 5000 Anganwadi Centres into Pre-primary School in convergence with Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan in World Bank Assisted ICDS III Project and General ICDS in the first instance.

2) The Government of India have launched a new innovative scheme of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, a programme for universal elementary education. Under this scheme, early childhood care and education is covered under the special focus groups. The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan realizes the importance of pre-school learning and early childhood care belonging to the vulnerable sector since it is crucial importance of rapid physical and mental growth and its role in improving participation of children in schools. In order to facilitate a greater convergence with the Integrated Child Development Services, efforts to strengthen them in the area of pre-school education will be made. Specific support may be made available to existing ICDS centres from funds available under the head for innovative activity.

In habitations not covered by the ICDS and wherever the State government is desirous of starting a pre-school education centre in the formal primary school, support from the Sarava Shiksha Abhiyan could be accessed through funds available under the head for innovative activity. provision of up to Rupees fifteen lakhs per year in a district for any innovative intervention including for Early Childhood Care and Education has been made. The District Elementary Education Plan has to have a Plan for Early Childhood Care and Education. It also has to list the facility already created under the ICDS. The supplementary support for Early Childhood Care and Education will always be in conjunction with the ICDS. Provision of honoraria for pre-school teacher, training of Anganwadi Sevikas for Pre-school learning, activity materials, play items, etc., could be provided as support for Early Childhood Care and Education.

Recognizing the continuance of learning and development, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan would make all efforts to develop and integrated approach to meet the educational needs of the pre-schoolers by strengthening pre-school component in ICDS by need-based training of anganwadi sevika, provision of additional person, learning materials etc.

3) The Project Co-ordinator, World Bank assisted ICDS-III Project has sent proposals for upgradation of Pre-school in 5000 Anganwadi Centres into Pre-primary (Nursery School) pattern in all districts of the State as indicated in the Annexure to this order. He has also requested the approval of entrusting the task of procurement of play materials at the rate of Rs.1500/- per centre, kit materials at the rate of Rs.225/- per centre, to pay incentive to Anganwadi Workers and Anganwadi Helpers at the rate of Rs.50/- per month and Rs.25/- per month respectively and Replenishment and purchase of stationery at the rate of Rs.1.50 per child (per months) under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan funds available under the head for innovative activity upto Rupees fifteen lakhs per year in a district for any innovative intervention including for Early Childhood Care and Education by making all efforts to develop an integrated approach to strengthening pre-school component in ICDS by need based training of Anganwadi Worker, provision of additional person, learning materials like play and kit materials etc.

4) The Government have examined the proposal of the Project Co-ordinator, World Bank Assisted ICDS-III Project carefully and decided

(i) to permit the District Collectors to upgrade a minimum of 5000 Anganwadi Centres under ICDS Scheme as indicated in the annexure to this order or more as required in their district into Pre-primary (Nursery School) pattern based on the availability of innovative funds under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan at their disposals and the District Collectors may also be requested to procure and supply the play materials at the rate of Rs.1500/- per centre, kit materials at the rate of Rs.225/- per center, to pay incentive to Anganwadi Workers and Anganwadi Helpers at the rate of Rs.50/- per month and Rs.25/- per month respectively and replishment and purchase of stationery at the rate of Rs.1.50 per child (per month) within the annual expenditure not exceeding Rs.15 lakhs (Rupees Fifteen lakhs only) in their district for a year available under innovative head of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and the amount may not be used for the existing activities. The District Collectors shall be instructed to ensure the supply of quality play materials as well as kit materials to the maximum advantages to the Government and there should be no overlapping of the play / kit materials already supplied to the Anganwadi Centres under ICDS Project and shall be a new / innovative materials ;

(ii) The School Education Department / Director of Elementary Education are requested to issue necessary instructions to all District Collectors to act upon and to utilise the funds available under innovative head of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan.

5) The District Collectors / Project Co-ordinator, World Bank Assisted ICDS-III Project are requested to send a progress / action taken report to Government in Social Welfare and Nutritious Meal Programme Department and School Education Department immediately.

6) This order issues with the concurrence of School Education and Finance Department vide their U.O.No.4/S/2003 dated 7-8-2003 and U.O. 448 / DS(VNP) / 2003 dated 26-8-2003 respectively.

UPGRADATION OF PRE-SCHOOL IN 5000 ANGANWADI CENTRE INTO NURSERY SCHOOL (PRE-PRIMARY)

S.No	NAME OF THE DISTRICT	Total No. of Centres	Proposed No. of Centres	No. of Anganwadi Workers
1	MADURAI	1397	200	200
2	DINDIGUL	1250	200	200
3	THENI	580	100	100
4	SIVAGANGAI	648	100	100
5	VIRUDHUNAGAR	792	100	100
6	RAMNAD	628	100	100
7	TRICHY	759	100	100
8	KARUR	386	50	50
9	PERAMBALUR	568	100	100
10	PUDUKKOTTAI	1325	200	200
11	KANYAKUMARI	677	100	100
12	THIRUNELVELI	1296	200	200
13	THOOTHUKUDI	812	100	100
14	COIMBATORE	1347	200	200
15	THE NILGIRIS	371	50	50
16	SALEM	1587	350	350
17	ERODE	1363	200	200
18	NAMAKKAL	786	100	100
19	DHARMAPURI	1425	200	200
20	VELLORE	1511	325	325
21	VILLUPURAM	1790	350	350
22	CUDDALORE	1263	200	200
23	CHENNAI	1017	200	200
24	THIRUVALLUR	1525	325	325
25	KANCHIPURAM	1609	350	350
26	THANJAVUR	1065	200	200
27	NAGAPATTINAM	580	100	100
28	THIRUVARUR	580	100	100
29	THIRUVANNAMALAI	880	100	100
		29817	5000	5000