Smoke Free Aganwadi Centres In Odisha – Department of Women & Child Development , Govt. of Odisha

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Smoke-Free Anganwadi Centres In Odisha

Problem

• Coal and wood fuels emit significant amounts of greenhouse gases. 
• Severe impact on climate change and air pollution 
• Burning coal and wood releases pollutants into the atmosphere, which cause respiratory problems, cardiovascular diseases, and other health issues.
• The release of smoke from firewood stains the walls of the building, thereby giving it an unclean look.
• The logistics of procuring and managing solid fuels were time-consuming and added to the workload of the AWWs.

Solution

• The detailed guideline has been formulated and shared with the districts/projects to ascertain the process of implementation of LPG connections at the AWCs.
• Governments established safety standards and regulations to ensure the safe handling, installation, and usage of LPG in AWCs.
• Adequate budgetary provisions have been made from the state funds and allocated for the purpose.
• Training has been provided to the AWWs & AWHs on fire safety measures, handling, usage, and maintenance of the LPG equipment.
• Monitoring and Evaluation mechanisms are in place to assess the implementation and impact of LPG usage in AWCs

Challenges

• There were issues in uniform implementation across districts
• In remote or rural areas, the accessibility of LPG refilling stations or delivery services was challenging.
• It was difficult to maintain a continuous supply of LPG.
• To ensure the supply of cylinders within a stipulated time frame.
• To assess KYC documents for the new LPG connection.

Innovation

• De-centralization of the entire process, from the mapping of distributors to LPG connections at the Anganwadi Centres
• Funds for refilling three cylinders were transferred to each AWC in advance at once and thereafter for three cylinders each time.
• Innovative approaches were employed in using and distributing LPG for cooking purposes to make AWCs smoke-free and reduce indoor air pollution.
• Payments are made by CDPOs to the joint Account of AWWs through bank transfer only in lieu of new LPG connections with double cylinders.
• Supervisors delineate which AWC would come under the nearest distance from the respective LPG agencies in consultation with the AWW.

Outcomes

• Transformation of existing AWCs to vibrant AWCs and improved the health status of AWW, AWH, and pre-school children attending AWCs.
• Currently, 95% of the AWCs in the state are provided with LPG connections as it is a relatively cleaner-burning fuel compared to solid fuels.
• LPG reduces particulate matter emissions, leading to a smaller environmental footprint
• LPG combustion produces significantly lower levels of smoke and harmful emissions compared to solid fuels, which improves indoor air quality and minimizes health risks.
• By using LPG in Anganwadi centers, the issue of wall staining caused by firewood smoke has been effectively addressed.

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Case Study

Smoke-Free Anganwadi Centres In Odisha 

Summary 

A majority of the AWCs use smoke-generating firewood, while some depend on coal, which has serious health impacts. It also acts as a big deterrence in conducting preschool activities in some AWCs where smoke covers the entire area where children carry on with their activities. With an aim to make Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) safe, clean and smoke-free zones, the Govt. in the W&CD Department now provisions LPG connections to all Anganwadi Centres across the State. This will not only ensure clean and safe surroundings at AWCs but will also be fuel efficient.

Problems

Coal and wood fuels emit significant amounts of greenhouse gases when burned, which contribute to climate change and air pollution. It releases pollutants into the atmosphere, which cause respiratory problems, cardiovascular diseases, and other health issues. The release of smoke from firewood stains the walls of the building, thereby giving it an unclean look. Also, the logistics of procuring and managing solid fuels were time-consuming and added to the workload of the AWWs.

Solutions

The detailed guideline has been formulated and shared with the districts/projects to ascertain the process of implementation of LPG connections at the AWCs. Governments established safety standards and regulations to ensure the safe handling, installation, and usage of LPG in AWCs. Adequate budgetary provisions have been made from the state funds and allocated for the purpose and training has been provided to the AWWs & AWHs on fire safety measures, handling, usage, and maintenance of the LPG equipment. Monitoring and Evaluation mechanisms are in place to assess the implementation and impact of LPG usage in AWCs.

Outcomes

Currently, 95% of the AWCs in the state are provided with LPG connections as it is a relatively cleaner-burning fuel compared to solid fuels. LPG is a relatively cleaner burning fuel compared to solid fuels. It emits fewer greenhouse gases and reduces particulate matter emissions, leading to a smaller environmental footprint. This results in improved indoor air quality, minimizing health risks of AWW & children. By using LPG in Anganwadi centers, the issue of wall staining caused by firewood smoke has been effectively addressed.

Challenges

There were issues in uniform implementation across districts. In remote or rural areas, the accessibility of LPG refilling stations or delivery services was a challenge, making it difficult to maintain a continuous supply of LPG.

Innovation

The department de-centralized the entire process from mapping distributors to LPG connections at the Anganwadi Centres. Funds for the refilling of three cylinders were transferred to each AWC in advance at once and thereafter for three cylinders each time.

Opportunities

This immensely successful initiative has a high potential for replicability in other states.

For more information, please contact:
Mr Hrushikesh Das, SECTION OFFICER at nutrition.wcd@gmail.com

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The best way to show your appreciation for this project is to click some advertisements and keep a count of how many you clicked. You will be asked for the number of advertisements that you clicked before you can vote. The money generated through this supports our social action.