The world of advertising constantly bombards us with positive messages related to motherhood, be it from the perspective of health or acceptance of different kinds of mothers.
#MaaKehtiHai, for instance, was an advertising campaign launched by Rajnigandha Pearls in an effort to celebrate International Mother’s Day. This emotional ad sent a message with its tagline, Ek Maa hi janti hai maa ke dil ki baat. Translated, it means, “Only a mother will know another mother’s heartbeat”. Two mothers bond over their shared love for a little boy, with one woman awaiting call from the adoption agency.
Another, Sunfeast’s Mom’s Magic biscuits, depicted an elderly woman knitting while a young woman (also her possible caretaker) keeps a tray of tea and biscuits, before departing for work. Upon return, she takes care of the elderly woman who falls asleep while knitting. It is later revealed that the sweater is meant for the young woman.
Domino’s Pizza with its #MaaNahiBhoolti (a mother never forgets) shows a son leaving his aged mother in an old age home, citing career as a reason. Though initially despondent, she bonds with another woman of her age over her son’s personality quirks, including his love for pizza and ginger tea, which cheers her up. All this while, she pines for her family, who return and they share happy moments together.
Mother’s Horlicks is even more specific, with its focus on special nutrition during pregnancy.
Such ads not only send an important social message but they tug at the heartstrings, leaving a lasting impression.
That said, international days targeting a specific audience, in this case, mothers are also urbane in nature. The question remains – do they penetrate villages?
Where healthcare education is concerned, the dearth in physicians, for example, remains a challenge, with nutrition being the most important aspect of healthy motherhood.
Are there mechanisms that look after mothers in villages?
Enter anganwadi centres. In simple words, they stand for “courtyard shelter”. In addition to taking care of children, these shelters also look after the health of mothers in rural areas of the country.
Pragya Pasricha has researched on anganwadi centres in Meghalaya as part of the first batch of the PA Sangma Fellowship for Legal and Policy Research that was launched in July 2022.
A graduate of National Law School of India University (NLSIU), she has engaged in the Livelihoods sector in India. Her keen interest in the social sector, combined with her background in Economics, keeps her curious and engaged with a diverse range of multi-disciplinary subjects.
Speaking on how anganwadis operate, she said, “They are a component under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) programme. Anganwadi centres are operated by an anganwadi worker and a helper. Mini anganwadi centres catering to a small population only function with an anganwadi worker.”
Pregnant women are, in her words, provided with pre-natal care, which includes nutrition supplements, vitamins and hot cooked meals, including vaccination and basic health care services, at the anganwadi centres.
Given rural areas often lack basic amenities, how do these courtyard shelters address the challenges of healthcare?
Pasricha gave an overview. “They are monitored with regular check-ups at the centre as well as at their home and are encouraged for institutional and safe deliveries. In case of any health complications which requires basic or special medical treatment, the workers refer the mothers to the hospitals close by.”
“It is also ensured that post birth, lactating mothers are provided sufficient supplements for them and their children. The anganwadi workers are also equipped to counsel the mothers on nutritional practices, breastfeeding and taking suitable care of the new-borns,” she added.
As a space meant for and run by women, these centres also become safe havens for pregnant women to meet and interact with each other. Moreover, they get guidance from workers who are “adequately trained to handle matters related to motherhood”.
There is no doubt that a vacuum exists, shaped by socio-economic factors, where knowledge is concerned. Conversations on healthcare are closely tied to healthcare education. Given the dearth of doctors, how do anganwadi centres fill the gap?
Pasricha said, “There is a huge lack of information and awareness, especially in rural areas and the centre creates an important space for women to openly discuss the challenges or issues before and after pregnancy and getting sincere advice for the same. From my research and discussions with anganwadi workers in the state, it is very clear that the workers have been trained in a very progressive manner to ensure mothers and children are cared for adequately. An anganwadi worker is dedicated to the health of pregnant and lactating women in the area. They, along with ASHA workers, fill in for this huge gap of absence of last mile health facilities and physicians in the state.”
She emphasised, “This ensures that women still have access to basic nutritional and health care during and after pregnancy. Further, it is important to ensure that children get adequate nutrition as they are developing. If anyone might be suffering from malnutrition, stunting or anaemia, they get the help they require urgently.”
What also makes anganwadi centres work is the fact that most workers live in the same rural area, therefore, aware of the reality.
Because they have insights into the challenges of healthcare education, they can also provide assistance in identifying problems, and find solutions to counter the pressing concerns.
This is true despite technology stepping in to intervene and ensure access to healthcare education. Mothers, too, prefer anganwadi workers and helpers compared to smartphone-based apps.
In highlighting this, Pasricha said, “Since the anganwadi workers belong to the community itself, there is already established trust between the worker and the women in the community. This ensures that the women usually respond positively to the workers. There is also a huge information gap present in the state and there are very less places to go for authentic education and hence, anganwadi centres play a critical role in ensuring that the gap is bridged.”
Speaking on possible resistance from the community, she added, “There is some resistance from the community, however, the anganwadi and ASHA workers go one step ahead with door-to-door monitoring to include any mothers who may be hesitant or unsure.”
“It is honestly the most amazing thing to see!” she stated, while highlighting how the anganwadi workers have a lot of zeal, will power and determination. “The women singlehandedly work on the administrative duties, cook hot meals for the children, conduct door-to-door monitoring, distribute the nutritional supplements and train and educate children aged six months to three years on basic language and cognitive skills,” she added.
Patience is key in their line of work, rooted in compassion.
Pasricha saluted them as she said, “The women who are the soul of anganwadi centres are incredibly smart and kind women who are working for the community dedicatedly with very less pay.”
Because many young mothers in rural areas are hesitant to share about their experiences, these courtyard shelters also facilitate important conversations.
On this International Mother’s Day, what would be Pasricha’s message for the people of Meghalaya?
“Regarding health concerns, my message to people would be to hold important conversations – these topics are not a taboo – to talk more with mothers to understand their issues, to talk about them on different platforms and to ensure that the basic nutritional and health needs of women are met with in any family. Pregnancy is an extremely difficult process to go through, and places a huge emotional, mental, and most importantly, physical burden on a mother. During this time, it is crucial that she is taken care of.”
In this light, what is one of the critical health concerns of mothers in rural Meghalaya?
As Pasricha mentions, it is anaemia. Additionally, pregnancies at a young age add to the risk – the health of both mother and child are impacted – nutrition, therefore, becomes crucial to ensure deficiencies are checked and effectively handled. Healthy pregnancy takes into account not just basic healthcare facilities but a healthy diet as well.
In highlighting the importance of women’s education, Pasricha said, “Women’s education needs to be put at the forefront. If anything, anganwadis are a testament to the fact that strong and educated women and mothers can empower a whole set of mothers in their community as well as the village. If women’s education is given equal priority, there is no limit to how much can be achieved by them.”
A quote by Mahatma Gandhi comes to the mind –
“To call woman the weaker sex is a libel; it is man’s injustice to woman. If by strength is meant brute strength, then, indeed, woman is less brute than man. If by strength is meant moral power, then woman is immeasurably man’s superior: Has she not greater intuition, is she not more self-sacrificing, has she not greater powers of endurance, has she not greater courage? Without her man could not be. If non-violence is the law of our being, the future is with woman. Who can make a more effective appeal to the heart than woman?”