The Chaudhary Devi Lal University (CDLU), Sirsa, has decided to adopt five anganwadi centres operating near its campus as part of a new social responsibility initiative aimed at improving child nutrition, early education and basic facilities.
The university administration said it would coordinate with the Education Department to strengthen infrastructure and provide better learning and development opportunities for children at the centres. Under the initiative, the university aims to actively contribute towards improving nutrition, primary learning and the overall development of children enrolled in nearby anganwadis. The plan also includes assessing the existing facilities at the centres and identifying areas in need of improvement. The university has appointed professor Rajkumar to coordinate the programme and oversee its implementation.
According to the administration, the initiative will go beyond formal support and focus on creating a better environment for children. Arrangements related to seating, sanitation, drinking water, educational material and sports activities will be improved on a priority basis. Teachers, research scholars and students from different university departments will also visit the centres from time to time and extend support through educational and awareness activities.
The university management believes that children from weaker sections of society need proper nutrition and a positive environment during the foundational stage of life. Keeping this in view, the programme will also include health check-up camps, awareness drives and creative activities for children. The administration is also planning special campaigns to encourage students to participate in social responsibility programmes and community development activities.
University officials said the initiative was in line with the objectives of the National Education Policy (NEP), which gives importance to social participation and community engagement. The university aims to ensure that educational institutions contribute not only through academics but also by becoming centres of positive social change.
The university administration has earlier also promoted social and rural development initiatives. Last month, the management held meetings with sarpanches from villages in the Sirsa and Fatehabad districts to discuss strengthening rural education and village development.
The university said development plans were being prepared based on the suggestions and the institute’s administrative capabilities. Officials expressed confidence that teachers, students and researchers could collectively help bring meaningful changes in village development. Vice-Chancellor Vijay Kumar said a university’s responsibility did not end with classroom teaching, but extended to society as a whole. “Anganwadi centres are the first step in a child’s nutrition and mental development. Our effort is to work with education officials to improve these centres so that the coming generation can be strengthened from the grassroots level,” he said.
