SURVEY OF EXISTING COMMUNITY BASED EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES FOR PRE-SCHOOL CHILDREN

The present research is an attempt to study and analyse the early intervention practices and to evaluate the effectiveness of these services on the different aspects of development of child such as physical, social, emotional, cognition etc. The study was carried out with the objectives to survey the existing community based early intervention services for pre-school children in Chandigarh and to assess the quality of early intervention services of young children in age group of 3-6years.13 Anganwari workers, 22 Nursery school teacher and 160 children between the age group 3-6 years were included for observation of early intervention practices in the following areas of development i.e. physical, motor, cognitive, social, emotional, language and self help skill. To collect the data for the study two tools were prepared by investigator : Questionnaire on early intervention practices in Anganwadi centres and Pre-primary schools; and Observation schedule of the child for early intervention activities. It was encouraging that these services are doing a commendable job regarding the physical and the mental development of children. Besides that, opportunities are provided for the social development of the children as well. There are various activities organised for the children. It helps children to become productive members of the society, imbibe leadership qualities among children. Children coming to these centres learn cooperative living, tolerance and social norms, they learn to behave and adjust with others. So these centres are helping in the overall development of the children. No doubt the programme has been quite effective but there are certain areas which need to be strengthened. As observed by the investigator there is no financial help from the local community, most of the Anganwadi centres are not getting funds regularly from the govt. due which they are not able to organize health related programmes for children, so local community can also contribute to make this programme effective.