A severe shortage of staff in Anganwadi centres across Tamil Nadu has led to the closure of 501 centres this year, including 147 in Chennai alone, raising concerns about the safety and welfare of young children, especially those from economically weaker sections.
Tamil Nadu has a total of 54,483 Anganwadi centres, which serve as crucial facilities for early childhood education, nutritional support for children under six, and maternal care. Each centre is typically staffed by one teacher and one cook. However, over 28,000 positions remain vacant, including approximately 9,000 teaching posts, primarily due to retirements and a lack of new appointments since 2018.
With only 75,468 staff currently working, out of the required 1.04 lakh, the existing workforce is stretched thin. In many cases, one teacher is forced to handle multiple centres, leading to significant gaps in both supervision and services. For example, at the Anganwadi on Kannadasan Road in Mogappair, Chennai, a single teacher is responsible for feeding and caring for over 15 children daily, along with attending to pregnant women. The strain has led to concerns over child safety and service quality.
The staff shortage has had a visible impact on enrolment, as parents are increasingly reluctant to send their children to understaffed Anganwadi centres. Many opt for privately run play schools, despite high fees. “Those who can afford it send their children to private play schools, while the poor have no choice but to rely on Anganwadis, which are now unsafe and understaffed,” said a parent in Chennai to Dinamalar.
Anganwadi workers have called on the government to act swiftly. “Vacant posts must be filled immediately to prevent further closures. Parents are losing confidence in the system, and we are seeing a direct impact on attendance and functioning,” said one worker to Dinamalar.
In response to the crisis, the state government has announced plans to fill 7,842 posts, including 3,886 teaching roles, but workers and activists say this is insufficient given the scale of the vacancies.
With closures mounting and staff stretched beyond capacity, experts warn that without urgent intervention, more centres may shut down, undermining key public welfare objectives related to child nutrition and early education in Tamil Nadu.
(With inputs from Dinamalar)
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