Patna: Bihar has launched a new disability screening framework for children aged 0–6 years as part of its push to strengthen early childhood care, with the announcement made at the closing ceremony of Poshan Pakhwada 2026 in Patna.
The state-level event, organised by the Directorate of ICDS under the Social Welfare Department at Gyan Bhawan, was attended by senior officials and frontline workers.
Disability Protocol And Screening System Launched
Deputy chief minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav unveiled the Disability Protocol and Disability Screening Schedule (DSS), aimed at enabling early identification of developmental delays in children.
Officials said the DSS will help Anganwadi workers assess children across six domains, including motor skills, communication, cognition, socio-emotional behaviour, vision and hearing.
A referral system linking Anganwadi centres with ASHA and ANM workers, as well as district-level intervention centres, is also being strengthened to ensure timely support.
Smartphones For Anganwadi Workers
Bandana Preyashi, secretary of the Social Welfare Department, announced that Android-based smartphones will be distributed to Anganwadi workers and assistants within two months to support digital monitoring and service delivery.
The department also launched a WhatsApp community channel, “Hamare Bachche, Hamara Parivar”, to provide families with information on nutrition, childcare and early education.
Focus On Early Childhood Development
Certificates under the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme were distributed to children who had completed six years of age.
Officials emphasised that the first six years are critical for development, with studies indicating that around 85% of brain growth occurs during this period.
Bihar Tops National Rankings Again
Preyashi said more than 71 Lakhs activities were conducted across the state during the fortnight-long campaign, covering areas such as maternal and child nutrition, early brain development, play-based learning and reduction of screen time.
Bihar secured the top position nationally during Poshan Pakhwada 2026, continuing its performance after ranking first during Poshan Maah 2025.
Improvement In Nutrition Indicators
Officials said recent data indicates improvement in child nutrition outcomes in the state.
According to the Poshan Tracker (March 2026), the prevalence of stunting has declined to 40.6%, from 42.9% in NFHS-5, while underweight cases have reduced significantly to 19.2% from 41%. Wasting has also dropped to 7.7%, compared with 22.9% earlier.
Statewide Campaign And Participation
The campaign involved extensive outreach activities, including Anganwadi sessions, village health and nutrition days, home visits and community programmes such as Godbharai and Annaprashan ceremonies.
Officials said the initiative aimed to strengthen awareness and improve outcomes through community participation, with large-scale involvement of district officials, programme officers and partner organisations.
