Outstation excursion visit to Savitribai Phule National Institute of Women and Child Development (SPNIWCD), Lucknow was organised by Department of Educational Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia for students of MA in Early Childhood Development, semester IV from 9th February,2026 to 12th February 2026. The students visited the Institute as part of their practical course of the programme. Two faculty members Dr. Zeba Tabassum and Dr. Sameer Babu M accompanied the students.
The objective of the visit was to observe innovative and child-friendly practices and also to observe and understand the following organisational set up, Programs and services and Child friendly techniques and noteworthy practices
On the first day 9th February,2026 Monday there was an introductory session where Students interacted with senior officials including Mr. Sunil Kumar (Deputy Director), Ms. Leena Kumari (Assistant Director), Mr. Deepak Yadav (Assistant Director), and Mr. Akhtar Ali (Assistant Director). They provided a detailed explanation about the establishment, objectives, and functioning of the institute. The officials highlighted that the institution plays an important role in strengthening women and child welfare services by supporting government programmes related to nutrition, early childhood care and education, and child development. They also explained how the institute coordinates with field-level workers such as Anganwadi workers and supervisors to ensure effective implementation of schemes, capacity building, and monitoring of services. The session helped the students understand the institutional structure, its working system, and its contribution towards improving child development and women protection and empowerment initiatives.
After the lunch break, the students attended a training programme on “POSHAN BHI PADHAI BHI”, where a representative from Rocket Learning conducted an interactive session. The trainer explained the importance of early stimulation, developmental milestones, and the role of Anganwadi supervisors in promoting holistic development during early years. The session also covered key aspects such as the Poshan Tracker, its use in monitoring child growth and nutrition, and the home visit module used by Anganwadi centres to guide parents in supporting children’s learning and health at home. The session became more engaging when the trainer conducted a hands-on activity where trainees were asked to prepare Teaching Learning Materials (TLMs) on different topics related to early childhood education using Adharshila. The students actively participated, created creative TLMs, and presented them confidently in front of Anganwadi supervisors and other batchmates gathered in the conference hall. This activity provided practical exposure and helped the trainees understand how low-cost and innovative learning materials can support children’s early learning and development effectively.
The students of M.A. Early Childhood Development, Jamia Millia Islamia, visited shishuvan Anganwadi supported by HCL Foundation in Vinayakpur as part of their field engagement programme.
The Anganwadi centre was well-maintained and systematically organised. The teachers and staff members appeared well-trained, motivated, and dedicated towards their responsibilities. The children were disciplined and actively engaged in the classroom activities. The hygiene of the centre was carefully maintained, and cleanliness was visible in both the learning spaces and common areas. The classroom environment was attractively decorated, reflecting thoughtful planning and effort by the staff.
An interaction was conducted with one of the teachers, who explained the daily routine and timetable followed at the centre. She also informed the students about the media policy, which restricts photography of children. The centre conducts monthly assessments to monitor the developmental progress of children. These assessments are age-specific, with separate formats designed for different age groups such as 2–3 years and 3–4 years.
Following this visit, the students visited model Anganwadi centre in Mohiddinpur, also supported by HCL Foundation. The centre operated within a single-room structure, with a small open space outside where children had their meals. Despite limited space, the classroom was well-organised and divided into different learning corners, including a play area, study area, and book corner. The centre was neatly maintained and thoughtfully arranged to support children’s learning.
Later, the students attended a community event titled “Daddy Cool” organised in Bulbulpur outside the Prathmik Vidyalaya. The event aimed to encourage fathers’ active participation in parenting and to promote awareness regarding the importance of their involvement in children’s social, emotional, and academic development. Various activities were conducted to engage fathers and children together.
Inside the Prathmik Vidyalaya, the event manager interacted with the students and explained that the initiative has been conducted since 2019. She also presented books developed by the team of HCL Foundation, which were originally designed and created by them for community use.
The day provided an opportunity to observe the functioning of Anganwadi centres and community-based parental engagement initiatives.
On the third day of the three-day visit to the Savitri Bai Phule National Institute of Women and Child Development, sessions were conducted at the Child Guidance Centre (CGC), the One Stop Centre (OSC), Lucknow, and the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), Lucknow.
At the Child Guidance Centre, an orientation session was conducted by Ms. Leena Kumari, Assistant Director and In-charge of the Centre. Established in February 2003 at the Regional Centre, Lucknow, the CGC provides assessment, counselling, and therapeutic services to children up to 18 years of age experiencing developmental, learning, behavioural, emotional concerns, and disabilities. The Centre functions through a multidisciplinary team comprising a psychiatrist, counsellor, special educator, speech therapist, and occupational therapist. The assessment process, intervention planning, parental guidance services, outreach initiatives, and disability certification procedures were explained. The therapy units, including the occupational therapy room, special educator room, and playroom, were also visited, and interaction with members of the professional team facilitated better understanding of its functioning.
At the One Stop Centre (OSC), a session was conducted by the psycho-social counsellor, who explained the objectives, services, and case management procedures of the Centre. Various cases were discussed to illustrate the nature of support provided. Established on 8 March 2016 under the Mission Shakti initiative, the Centre operates 24/7 and provides integrated services including emergency assistance, medical and legal aid, psycho-social counselling, temporary shelter, and follow-up support. The premises were visited to observe the functional units and understand how services are delivered in coordination with police, hospitals, and district administration.
The third day visit concluded at the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), Lucknow, where Mr. Ravindra Singh Jadaun, Chairperson, explained the statutory functioning of the Committee under the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015. The procedures followed in handling cases of children in need of care and protection were discussed. Cases were presented during the session to demonstrate the decision-making and rehabilitation process undertaken by the Committee.
On the fourth day Students visited the Child Guidance Centre at SPNIWCD. They were first oriented by Ms. Leena Kumari about the functioning, structure and significance of the Child Guidance centre.
The visit concluded with thanks to the team at SPNIWCD who have supported and helped in making this visit a success.
Source : Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi