Building resilient Anganwadis turns climate vulnerability into an opportunity for stronger, safer communities.
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In recent years, climate-induced disasters have frequently interrupted essential services at India's Anganwadi Centres (AWCs), risking the health and development of millions and leaving children and women at the most disproportionate end. India's vulnerability to climate change is a pressing concern, with the Economic Survey 2024–25 identifying it as the seventh most susceptible country. This underscores the urgency to protect the AWCs - government-sponsored centres that provide basic healthcare, nutrition, early childhood care, and education for children under the age of six, as well as support to pregnant and lactating mothers, and adolescent girls - against climate crisis, air pollution, and other disasters.
Approximately 13.96 lakh AWCs across diverse terrains are registered under the Poshan Tracker application. The increasing frequency of climate-induced disasters—severe floods, cyclones, and cloudbursts in places such as Wayanad, Bengaluru, Odisha, and Kerala—has adversely affected physical infrastructure, including AWCs, disrupting services crucial to the health and well-being of their beneficiaries.
Climate change is bound to worsen/widen these existing infrastructure gaps.
A 2018 NITI Aayog report highlighted issues such as a lack of permanent premises, inadequate infrastructure, and essential amenities, including electricity. Furthermore, surveys also stress the absence of other necessities such as toilets, cold storage for vaccines, and other critical services. Climate change is bound to worsen/widen these existing infrastructure gaps.
The latest budget identifies this lacuna and lays special emphasis on Anganwadi infrastructure. There has been a recent increase in budgetary allocation from INR 23,182.98 crore (2024–25) to INR 26,889.68 crore (2025–26) for the Ministry of Women and Child Development. A substantial portion of this budget, INR 21,960 crore, is dedicated to the Saksham Anganwadi and POSHAN 2.0 initiatives, focusing on nutrition support for children and adolescent girls, early childhood care and education, and enhancing allied infrastructure. This investment in infrastructure upgradation of old and/or new centres must incorporate resilience planning to ensure long-term sustainability.
The Finance Minister of India, Nirmala Sitharaman, emphasised that this initiative supports 8 crore children, 1 crore pregnant and lactating women, and 20 lakh adolescent girls, particularly in aspirational districts and the Northeastern Region. Considering several AWCs are located in exposed geographies and serve vulnerable populations, including their staff, it is imperative to focus on fortifying their resilience. This approach not only safeguards physical assets, such as furniture, fixtures, digital installations, and ration supplies, but it also ensures service continuity during emergencies and enhances preparation for public health crises such as COVID-19.
The National Disaster Management Guidelines - School Safety Policy have demonstrated success in mitigating loss of life and infrastructure in educational settings. This presents an opportune moment for national, state, and local authorities to collaborate on developing Anganwadi Resilience Plans (ARPs). Existing best practices, such as School Disaster Preparedness Plans or School Disaster Risk Management Plans, offer valuable frameworks that can be adapted for Anganwadis. Initiatives under the Smart Cities Mission, especially ‘nurturing neighbourhood challenges' that include Anganwadi upgradations, provide additional insights into resilience building. Similarly, the refurbishment of the Anganwadi Centres project, supported by Tata Trusts in Maharashtra’s Palghar district, serves as another notable example.
Making AWCs resilient will strengthen the efforts of Saksham Anganwadi and POSHAN 2.0, thereby advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) targets.
A coordinated effort involving the Ministries of Rural Development, Urban Affairs, Women and Child Development, along with the NDMA, can facilitate the rollout of comprehensive ARP. The initial step could involve Geographic Information System (GIS)-mapping of AWCs across rural and urban areas, capturing attributes essential for resilience planning. Some States, such as Karnataka, have undertaken AWC mapping. This data would aid in identifying the most vulnerable centres—those in dilapidated conditions, congested locations, or areas prone to flooding—and prioritise interventions accordingly. Incorporating AWCs within local-level planning, such as City Climate Action plans, would complement the objectives of the Saksham Anganwadi initiative, optimise resource utilisation, and build their resilience. Engaging stakeholders—NDMA, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Forces (SDRF), volunteers, United Nations (UN) agencies, and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs)—in activities such as evacuation drills, awareness campaigns, dietary education, and emergency protocols can enhance preparedness.
Furthermore, educating all constituent stakeholders, including children, parents, and adolescent girls, can foster a culture of resilience. For instance, adolescent girls, already exposed to similar initiatives in schools and communities, can act as change agents in promoting this agenda. Making AWCs resilient will strengthen the efforts of Saksham Anganwadi and POSHAN 2.0, thereby advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) targets.
India's role as the Secretariat of the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) offers an opportunity to leverage global expertise in developing disaster-resilient infrastructure. The success of making 13.96 lakh Anganwadis resilient can serve as a model for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) facing similar climate challenges and financial constraints. Implementing ARP will raise awareness about physical safety during emergencies and empower functionaries, including Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) and Helpers (AWHs), to take proactive measures. For instance, AWWs can educate beneficiaries about heatwaves and preventive actions to avoid heat strokes, as well as counsel them on nutrition and related information to safeguard against illnesses. They can also sensitise communities about seasonal diseases such as chikungunya and dengue during monsoon months. Philanthropic organisations and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives can play a pivotal role in supporting the development of resilient Anganwadi infrastructure.
Resilient Anganwadi Centres are essential to safeguard children, mothers, and adolescent girls, ensuring service continuity even in the face of climate shocks.
Resilient Anganwadi Centres are essential to safeguard children, mothers, and adolescent girls, ensuring service continuity even in the face of climate shocks. By closing infrastructure gaps through collaborative planning, India can advance its vision of resilient, inclusive, and sustainable development while offering a model for other climate-vulnerable nations. With government leadership complemented by philanthropy and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Anganwadis can truly stand as pillars of safety and well-being for generations to come.
Manish Thakre is a consultant specialising in Climate Action, Resilience, and Inclusive Urban Development. He holds an MSc in Cities from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).
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Manish Thakre is a consultant specialising in Climate Action, Resilience, and Inclusive Urban Development. Executive MSc in Cities, London School of Economics and Political Science ...
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