Patna: In a new initiative to strengthen early childhood development in the state, the Directorate of ICDS, under social welfare department, on Friday launched standard operating procedures (SOPs) for disability screening and early identification, along with a dedicated WhatsApp community platform, “ICDS: Hamare Bacche, Hamara Parivar,” to improve parental awareness and engagement in early childhood development and care.The initiatives were unveiled with technical support from Unicef at a state-level Poshan Pakhwada workshop here, which also marked the conclusion of Poshan Pakhwada-2026.Launching the new disability screening framework, deputy CM Bijendra Prasad Yadav said Bihar was moving towards a more inclusive model of development by strengthening systems for early childhood care, nutrition and timely identification of developmental delays.Yadav appreciated Unicef’s support in improving early childhood systems in the state and added that the launch of the disability screening framework was a major step towards ensuring that children with special needs are identified in time and linked to appropriate care.The workshop assumes significance in light of evidence showing that nearly 85% of brain development takes place before the age of six years, while many children with developmental delays remain undiagnosed until they enter school. The newly launched SOPs and guidelines are aimed at addressing this gap through standardised screening and referral mechanisms at the grassroots level.Secretary, social welfare department, Bandana Preyashi, stressed the need for convergence among nutrition, health and education sectors. She said the momentum created during Poshan Pakhwada must continue beyond the campaign period and noted that the initiative brought nutrition and early childhood development into sharper focus at the grassroots. She said Anganwadi centres were increasingly emerging as hubs for early learning and women’s empowerment, supported by stronger systems, improved infrastructure and greater emphasis on early identification.Unicef Bihar chief Monika Nielsen said Bihar, with nearly 2 crore children below six years of age, must view investment in early childhood as both a social priority and a strategic investment in human capital.In his welcome address, ICDS director Yogendra Sagar said the department was focusing on building the capacity of frontline workers and scaling evidence-based interventions across districts. He said the rollout of the disability screening schedule with Unicef would strengthen early identification systems across the state by equipping Anganwadi workers to detect developmental delays early and ensure timely support.A key feature of the event was the formal introduction of the disability screening schedule, which will now be used across Bihar’s ICDS network to identify children with developmental concerns and facilitate referrals.Children from Anganwadi centres participated in cultural and fancy dress presentations centred on nutrition and child development. Unicef nutrition specialist Dr Antaryami Dash outlined the disability protocol and highlighted the importance of early screening, caregiver awareness and stronger referral systems.Senior officials present the programme included State Health Society executive director Amit Kumar Pandey, Mid-Day Meal director Vinayak Mishra, Panchayati Raj director Navin Kumar Singh and ICDS joint director Bharati Priyamvada.
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