Chandigarh: The Punjab Government has launched the Punjab Child Development Campaign to improve the health and development of young children. The Social Security, Women and Child Development Department introduced the “Nikke Kadam, Vadda Vikas” initiative during the Punjab Child Development Conference 2026.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann’s government aims to build a healthier future for children across the state. Moreover, the campaign focuses on children from birth to three years of age, which experts consider the most important stage of development.
Special Report Cards for Every Child
Under the Punjab Child Development Campaign, parents of every child aged up to three years will receive a special development report card.
The report card will track the child’s physical, mental, emotional, and cognitive growth. In addition, parents will receive an illustrated guidebook. The book will explain age-appropriate games, learning activities, and parenting techniques.
Monthly Home Visits by Anganwadi Workers
The government will strengthen support through Anganwadi workers. Every month, they will visit homes to guide parents on child care and early learning.
They will encourage play-based education, storytelling, conversation, and responsive caregiving. As a result, children can develop stronger language, thinking, and social skills during their early years.
Focus on Nutrition and Breastfeeding
Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur urged mothers to provide only breast milk during the first six months after birth.
She said babies do not require water, honey, or other liquids during this period. After six months, parents should introduce fresh, homemade, and nutritious semi-solid food to support healthy growth.
Growth Monitoring Through Poshan Tracker
The Punjab Child Development Campaign also strengthens health monitoring. Anganwadi centres will regularly measure every child’s height and weight.
Workers will upload the information through the Poshan Tracker App. Consequently, health officials can identify malnutrition and growth problems at an early stage and ensure timely support.
Thousands of Workers Already Trained
The government has already trained and assessed 27,307 Anganwadi workers. Meanwhile, the Mission Aarambh programme has connected nearly 1.6 lakh parents through WhatsApp-based home learning across all 23 districts.
During 2025–26, more than 15.59 lakh parents participated in ECCE Day activities. The participants included 10.76 lakh mothers and 4.83 lakh fathers, showing strong community involvement.
Government Reaffirms Commitment
Dr. Baljit Kaur said the Punjab Child Development Campaign is more than a government programme. Instead, it represents the state’s commitment to giving every child a healthy, safe, and brighter future.
She added that Anganwadi workers will continue delivering nutrition guidance, early education, and child development services to families across Punjab. Ultimately, the initiative aims to ensure that every child receives the best possible start in life.
Key Points of the news:
- Punjab has launched the “Nikke Kadam, Vadda Vikas” campaign to support the physical, mental, emotional, and cognitive development of children from birth to three years.
- Every family with a child aged 0–3 years will receive a special development report card and an illustrated guidebook with age-appropriate learning and play activities.
- Anganwadi workers will conduct monthly home visits to guide parents on nutrition, responsive caregiving, storytelling, and play-based learning.
- The government will monitor children’s height and weight through the Poshan Tracker App to identify malnutrition and health issues at an early stage.
- More than 27,000 Anganwadi workers have completed training, while over 1.6 lakh parents have joined the state’s home-learning initiative under Mission Aarambh.
