The Maharashtra government has opened a first-of-its-kind artificial intelligence-powered anganwadi center in Waddhamna village, 18 kilometers from Nagpur. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis inaugurated the centre on July 27, marking a significant step towards digital inclusion in early childhood education.
The centre, part of the Nagpur Zilla Parishad’s Mission Bal Bharari, incorporates cutting-edge technology including Meta’s VR headsets, AI-enabled interactive smart boards, tablets, and gamified learning platforms to teach children poems, songs, and basic concepts in an engaging and personalised manner, reported News 18.
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Pilot model for digital-first rural learning
Of the district’s 2,202 anganwadis, the Waddhamna centre, led by anganwadi worker Saroj Kukde, was selected as the pilot model due to its accessibility and proximity to training hubs. The Zilla Parishad’s CESS allocation provided funding for the project, which cost 9.5 lakh rupees. The initiative has already shown promising results — the number of enrolled children aged 2–6 has risen from 10 to over 25 within days of the upgrade.
Powered by IndiaAI and regional alliances
The transformation was carried out in conjunction with the tech company Qolaba, which is a part of the IndiaAI program run by the Central government. Now that the center has Wi-Fi-enabled CCTV cameras, education officials and stakeholders can monitor it remotely.
Children currently spend five hours daily, six days a week, at the anganwadi. Kukde personalizes instruction by integrating ten VR headsets with a smart board for an hour each day and utilizing AI tools. Based on individual response times, the system adjusts content difficulty based on student performance.
Enhancement of anganwadi workers’ capacities
Anganwadi employees are undergoing structured smart teaching methods training to support the digital shift. Sessions are held thrice a week and tailored to their existing schedules. The foundational digital skills covered in the first three months are generative AI, which lets employees create custom text, images, and even music.
Plans for expansion
The Nagpur Zilla Parishad plans to expand the AI-powered model to 40 additional anganwadis in light of its initial success. AI-based nutrition analysis and tools for tracking physical and cognitive development will be part of the project’s next phase.
The initiative, according to officials, aims to create a new model for tech-integrated early learning in India’s rural heartlands and close the digital divide for children in remote areas.