Jaipur: The women and child development dept has launched a week-long campaign to set up toy banks at anganwadi centres from June 24 to July 1, aiming to make preschool learning more engaging for children aged 3-6 years and boost enrolment.Officials said anganwadi workers and helpers will conduct home visits till June 30 to create awareness about the initiative and identify children in the age group who are not enrolled at anganwadi centres. Parents of such children will be invited to a special programme scheduled for July 1.As part of the campaign, families will be encouraged to donate toys no longer used by older children. The toys will be collected for use at anganwadi centres to support the physical, mental and emotional development of younger children. A target has been set to collect 10-20 safe toys at each centre.Vasudev Malawat, director of Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), said the initiative seeks to promote holistic child development through community participation while increasing enrolment at anganwadi centres.“The toy banks will be inaugurated at all anganwadi centres at 9 am on July 1,” he said.Along with the inauguration, all identified children will be enrolled at anganwadi centres. The dept will also invite public representatives, departmental officials, Panchayati Raj representatives, voluntary organisations and parents to participate in the programme and strengthen community involvement in early childhood development.
