DEFINITION OF

BALWADI
A place where, the children in
the age group of 2 ½ to 5 years
receive pre- primary education.
• The balwadi teachers are
usually local women.

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• Besides the education and
recreational activities there are
other regular programmes such as
monthly meetings of the parents
in which the parents are educated
about childcare, health and
nutrition etc.
• There are regular medical health
checks up. Records are kept
about these check ups and
children’s physical progress.
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• Other cultural programmes
which the balwadi children
celebrate are Independence
Day, Children’s Day,
Teachers’ Day,etc. Also,
every year a Sports Day is
held and in some areas
children are taken out on
annual picnics.
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• The Mahila Mandals run these
balwadis.
• The children pay a nominal fee
through which the teachers’
stipend and other expenses are
paid.
• Once the children reach the age
of 5, they can be admitted to
schools.
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BALWADI NUTRITION PROGRAM
It is a nutrition programme for pre-
school children.
The Department of Social Welfare
has a scheme on the programme of
nutrition for the pre-school children
to provide the nutritional services for
children in the age-group 3-5 years
provided through Balwadies.

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• This programme was started
in December 1970.
• It gives the provision of
supplementary nutrition of 300
calories and 10 grams of protein
during 270 days in the age group of
3-5 years in a year for children
attending Balwadis.

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• It is being promoted with the
help of four national-level
voluntary organisations,
namely, the Indian Council for
Child Welfare, Harijan Sewak
Sangh, Bharatiya Adamjati
Sewak Sangh and Central
Social Welfare Board.

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• Fund for the supplementary
feeding of Balwadi
Nutrition programme is
given by the Central
Government which was
launched in 1970-71
through voluntary
organisations.

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• There are around
5641 Balwadis
throughout the country
benefiting 2.25 lakh
children.

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