Kaushik inaugurates Six months certificate course  for Anganwadi Workers in Lakhipur

way2barak, NOV 17: In a major push towards strengthening early childhood education in Assam, the District Administration, Cachar, on Monday facilitated the inauguration of the Six-Month Certificate Course on Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) for Anganwadi Workers under NEP 2020. The programme was formally launched at the Multipurpose Hall in Lakhipur by  Minister for Food, Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs &  Mines & Mineral and Barak valley development department, Shri Kaushik Rai, marking the beginning of the Barak Valley expansion of this ambitious state-led initiative.

The event witnessed the presence of key district and block-level officials, including Smti Phylis Hrangchal, ADC (WCD) Cachar, Smti Anjali Kumari, i/c DSWO & Assistant Commissioner, BDO  Rohshanur Rahman, SDMO Dr Dibyajyoti Bhattacharjee, ZP Member Smti Seema Deb, Block President Shri O. Biramoni Singha, KRPs, Supervisors, and officials from the Education and Health Departments. A large number of Anganwadi Workers from across Lakhipur co district also attended the inaugural ceremony.

Addressing the gathering, Minister Kaushik Rai described the ECCE programme as a decisive step in ensuring quality preschool education across Assam. “I am delighted to be part of the inauguration of this six-month certificate course on Early Childhood Care and Education, organised with the support of the Women and Child Development Department and SCERT Assam. This initiative, aligned with NEP 2020, is a significant step towards capacity building and empowerment of our Anganwadi Workers,” he said. While extending his wishes, he added, “I hope this course becomes a rich learning experience for every participant and helps build a brighter future for our children.”

Emphasising that the 3–6 age group forms the foundation of cognitive and emotional development, the Minister stated that the State Government’s large-scale training effort aims to revolutionise early learning outcomes. The Minister also praised Cachar District administration for the proactive role in enabling the rollout of the programme in the Barak Valley.

According to the Women and Child Development Department, the ECCE training has already capacitated 11,090 Anganwadi Workers across 16 districts of Assam. With the programme now extended to Barak Valley, Anganwadi Workers in Cachar, Hailakandi and Sirbhumi districts will also be brought under the structured training module.

Under Lakhipur Centre No. 67, a total of around 194 Anganwadi Workers from the Lakhipur, Banskandi, Binnakandi and Rajabazar ICDS Projects will undergo systematic classroom instruction, internships, and hands-on early learning practices. Officials said the curriculum has been designed to strengthen preschool readiness through improved activity-based learning, better classroom organisation, and enhanced early literacy and numeracy skills for children aged 3–6 years.

With Monday’s inauguration, the District Administration Cachar has set the stage for a comprehensive capacity-building exercise aimed at transforming preschool education at the grassroots level.

This is stated in a press release issued by Regional office of Information & Public Relations Barak valley Zone Silchar Assam.