New Delhi: A play slide in a Delhi secretariat hall drew curious glances until it folded into itself, its steps flattening into a tabletop as hidden storage opened beneath. In seconds, it turned from play equipment into furniture. The idea was born out of the space constraints in Jasola’s anganwadi centres that have just a room each.Standing beside the prototype, Sameepta (19), and Areedha (25), from UDIT University, explained how the “Dhup–Chik” unit was built for this reality.“When we visited Jasola, the space was so congested that separate stairs, seating or play equipment were not possible,” they said. Made of birch plywood with 180-degree hinges, the unit folds into a slide, seating and storage, combining multiple functions in a single structure.The prototype was part of a workshop organised by the women and child development department, which is rethinking how anganwadi centres must function within tight limits.Delhi’s anganwadi network has 10,897 centres serving nearly 6.6 lakh beneficiaries. But infrastructure remains a challenge. About 91% centres run from rented spaces, with a few in schools or owned buildings and only 42 in govt structures. Although 611 anganwadi-cum-palna centres are planned, most are in tight spaces. Over half function within 25 to 50 square yards, and 22% in even smaller areas.CDPO Chesta Yadav said: “We are stretching the system to its limit. In areas like Tilak Vihar and Raja Garden, centres have long functioned in poorly-lit spaces where even minor changes face the landlord’s resistance. The plan to co-locate centres with DUSIB sites has stalled as many lack basic infrastructure. In JJ clusters, space is scarce, ventilation is poor, and crèche services are unviable. There is also a severe shortage of supervisors. In Mayapuri, one supervisor manages multiple centres, which is not feasible.”“There has been improvement,” said Rashida, a supervisor at Bhatti Mines with 26 years of experience. “At one site, we merged four centres into a 250-yard space with four rooms and run a palna crèche. But space constraints, especially in JJ clusters, persist.”With this persistent challenge in mind, the workshop focused on design solutions that work within limitations.Against this backdrop, students from the University of Design, Innovation and Technology (UDIT) led a five-week project, including field visits to anganwadis around Okhla, to develop space-efficient, child-centric solutions that often combine multiple functions.For instance, one such idea was a 180-degree foldable book of a child’s height that opened into an interactive space rather than remaining just a reading aid. A painted landscape could be animated with stick-on elements, allowing children to play, turning learning into a physical activity.Another intervention, the step-and-play floor mat, reorganised the floor instead of adding furniture. With marked spots for sitting, standing and movement, it created invisible boundaries within a single room. There was also an interactive play-and-learning board with textures, shapes and attachments, encouraging children to touch, solve and move, combining motor skills with cognitive learning. Compact in design, it could be wall-mounted or stored flat, fitting into the spatial limits most anganwadis contend with.WCD secretary Rashmi Singh said there is no one-size-fits-all model for anganwadis in Delhi, given their last-mile reach. “It is not always possible to house every centre in large, well-lit spaces. Some still operate in smaller areas with poor lighting, despite upgrades,” she said.She said the department is strengthening centres through an integrated approach, repositioning them as community hubs for childcare, nutrition, health and women’s empowerment. “This includes a hub-and-spoke model for mentoring and standardisation, and the six-pillar Delhi Samarth Anganwadi framework covering childcare, learning, community participation, women’s empowerment and health services. Co-location is also being scaled up, with 687 centres across 336 schools shifted so far.”“However, many centres will continue to function in constrained spaces. That is where design becomes critical. Efforts like this workshop help us make the most of what we have and guide future interventions,” she said.Experts say more can be done. Architect Swati Janu from Social Design Collaborative stressed that child-centric design must be participatory, with caregivers and communities shaping spaces through “Toolbox of Care” sessions. She also highlighted modular formats like octagonal layouts for flexible use of space, while noting delays in approvals for permanent structures in areas like Kalindi Kunj.Dr Preeti Vajpai added that the BaLa (Building as learning aid) approach can translate design into practice by embedding learning into everyday surfaces such as floors, walls and doors.She pointed to simple, low-cost ideas like using recycled tyres to create play areas, making anganwadis more engaging without needing extra space.
