AP launches ‘Navachetana’

Early childhood development screening programme launched

Metro India News | AMARAVATI

In a major initiative aimed at ensuring every child gets the best possible start in life, the Andhra Pradesh government has launched a statewide capacity-building programme on Early Childhood Development (ECD) and developmental screening. Announcing the initiative, Women Development and Child Welfare Minister Gummidi Sandhya Rani said the programme is designed to identify developmental delays at an early stage and provide timely interventions for children.

The Minister emphasized that the first 1,000 days, from pregnancy until a child turns two, are the most crucial period in human development. During this phase, a child’s brain develops rapidly, with nearly one million neural connections forming every second. She noted that around 80 per cent of brain development is completed by the age of three and nearly 90 per cent by the age of six.

Highlighting the importance of nutrition, healthcare, responsive caregiving and early learning opportunities, Sandhya Rani said these factors significantly influence a child’s future education, health, productivity and overall well-being.

As part of the initiative, the Women and Child Welfare Department, in coordination with the Health Department, is implementing “Navachetana,” a mobile-based developmental screening tool across the state. The platform will assess children aged 0-6 years in five key developmental domains, gross motor skills, fine motor skills, language development, cognitive growth, and socio-emotional development.

The Minister said Navachetana will enable Anganwadi workers to systematically monitor developmental milestones and identify children requiring additional support or early intervention services. To ensure effective implementation, master trainers were trained at the state level on May 29 and 30, followed by district-level training programmes on June 2 and 3. Large-scale training for Anganwadi workers will be conducted from June 5 to 10.

The programme also includes awareness campaigns for parents through WhatsApp messages, videos, IVRS services and printed counselling material, enabling families to actively support their children’s development at home.

“Every child is precious. By investing in early identification, nurturing care and parental empowerment during the first 1,000 days, we are laying the foundation for a healthier, stronger and more developed Andhra Pradesh,” the Minister said.

What is Navachetana?

Andhra Pradesh launched “Navachetana,” a mobile-based developmental screening programme for children aged 0-6 years. The initiative aims to detect developmental delays early and provide timely intervention through Anganwadi workers. The app assesses five areas: motor skills, language, cognitive growth, and socio-emotional development. Government is training Anganwadi workers statewide and running parent awareness campaigns to support early childhood development.