Model Anganwadi Center
Children in rural communities often lack access to safe, accessible and well-designed spaces for early childhood learning, nutrition and care.
2
Pilot Sites
55.59
Sq. Metres
₹9.8 Lakh
Estimated Cost
About
For many children in Meghalaya's rural communities, the Anganwadi centre is the first space where they experience early childhood learning, nutrition support and care. Yet many existing centres operate from makeshift or poorly maintained buildings, with limited accessibility, inadequate sanitation and unreliable access to power.
The Model Anganwadi Center was developed to demonstrate how thoughtfully designed, locally appropriate infrastructure can create better spaces for children, mothers and communities. Awarded by the Government of Meghalaya, the project explores the use of local construction materials, clean energy and climate-responsive design to create welcoming environments for learning, play and nutrition.
The model was designed around the needs of children and caregivers, combining functional spaces with accessibility, natural light, locally available materials and environmentally responsive features.
Two pilot sites were taken forward: Selbalgre in West Garo Hills and Nonghali in East Khasi Hills. The Selbalgre pilot included a complete design and cost estimate, while architectural and structural drawings were developed for Nonghali.
The project was designed by Magnidus, Architecture | Landscape | Interiors, Jorhat, led by Principal Architect Priyam Ballav Goswami.
Project Partners
Approach
The centre brings together spaces for learning, play, nutrition and care. The common room programme includes a classroom, open angan for activities and play, mother-care room, kitchen, separate child and adult toilets and storage.
The design explores locally available materials and construction techniques that can be easily understood, built and maintained by village communities, supporting local skills, resources, knowledge, and long-term sustainability.
The Selbalgre design incorporates a rainwater harvesting system with filtration and storage, supporting responsible water management while conserving resources and strengthening sustainable rural infrastructure.
The rooms are arranged around a circular, tree-lined play area linked by a ramped, accessible pathway, making the centre easy to navigate for children and caregivers while ensuring safe and inclusive movement for all users alike too.
The Selbalgre model integrates roof-mounted solar photovoltaic panels, showing how renewable energy can be incorporated into rural public infrastructure while supporting local needs, reducing energy costs, and promoting sustainability.
The Selbalgre centre was designed for construction by the village community rather than a paid contractor, reducing delivered costs while building local construction skills and strengthening community ownership of the project.
Two Design Approaches
Selbalgre, West Garo Hills
The Selbalgre centre uses a whole-bamboo structural frame, wattle-and-daub walls made from woven bamboo split and finished with cement plaster, and compressed earth block masonry produced using local soil.
Nonghali, East Khasi Hills
The Nonghali centre uses an RCC-framed structure with mud-block infill walls and a stone plinth. The design retains the accessible, naturally lit room layout while adapting the structural approach to the site's conditions.
A Space Designed Around Children
Learning
A dedicated classroom provides a space for early childhood learning and activities.
Play
An open angan and circular, tree-lined play area create space for children to play and engage in activities.
Nutrition
A dedicated kitchen supports the centre's nutrition-related functions.
Mother & Child Care
A mother-care room provides a dedicated space for mothers and caregivers.
Health & Hygiene
Separate child and adult toilets are incorporated into the design.
Accessibility
A ramped pathway provides accessible movement through the centre.
Community-Led Construction
A key feature of the model is its approach to construction.
For the Selbalgre pilot, the estimated cost of the centre was ₹9.80 lakh for a built-up area of 55.59 square metres. The estimate was prepared using the Meghalaya PWD Schedule of Rates for 2015–16.
Building for Learning, Play and Community
The Model Anganwadi Center demonstrates how rural public infrastructure can combine child-friendly design, local materials, accessibility, clean energy, water management and community participation.