Reliance Foundation Launches Anganwadi Learning Labs to Strengthen Early Childhood Education in Maharashtra
Mumbai (Maharashtra), December 13: Aiming to bolster early childhood care and education (ECCE) in Maharashtra, Reliance Foundation, in partnership with the Government of Maharashtra, launched a network of 24 Anganwadi Learning Labs on Friday in Rayte village, Kalyan. This initiative marks a significant milestone in the effort to foster age-appropriate development for children aged three to six years.
The launch event was attended by over 250 parents, children, and officials from the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme, who shared their aspirations for the new centre. This move is part of Reliance Foundation’s ongoing commitment to improving early childhood education across the state.
Reliance Foundation’s strategic partnership with the Maharashtra government aims to enhance the learning and development of young children by providing not only capacity-building efforts but also creating Anganwadi Learning Labs as demonstration, training, and innovation spaces. These labs are designed to support age-appropriate development and improve early childhood care in Anganwadi centres.
Kailash Pagare, I.A.S., Commissioner of ICDS, Government of Maharashtra, emphasized the importance of the partnership. He said, “Reliance Foundation has partnered with ICDS Maharashtra on the Early Childhood Care and Education Initiative. Through this collaboration, we are leveraging their expertise and resources for all-round development of children. We strongly believe this initiative will improve the quality of ECCE services in Anganwadi centres, ensuring a strong foundation for our children’s future.”
A spokesperson from Reliance Foundation expressed pride in their partnership with the government and highlighted the crucial role of Anganwadi workers and parents in early childhood development. “We are privileged to partner with the Government of Maharashtra to empower frontline Anganwadi workers, who play a crucial role in early childhood development, and recognizing the role of parents, especially a mother, in a child’s early years. The launch of the Anganwadi Learning Labs is an important moment in this direction,” the spokesperson said. “Reliance Foundation will continue to work with the government to build on these initiatives.”
As part of the ongoing efforts, Reliance Foundation will provide capacity-building programs on play-based learning techniques for 700 Anganwadi workers and supervisors, alongside parental and community engagement activities aimed at child development. The newly revamped Anganwadi spaces will also feature age-appropriate books, digital learning infrastructure, and child-friendly WASH facilities in alignment with Saksham Anganwadi guidelines.
These efforts aim to enhance children’s “school readiness,” along with improving numeracy, literacy skills, and the opportunity to reach their full potential. Through rigorous training programs and continuous support, Reliance Foundation intends to reach over 10,000 children across Maharashtra.
This initiative is part of Reliance Foundation’s broader vision to provide world-class early childhood care and education to over 10 million children from disadvantaged communities across India. The Foundation is working closely with state governments on various models for capacity building, community engagement, and creating enabling environments to lay a strong foundation for lifelong learning and development.
