Dilapidated Anganwadi centre cries for help

Dilapidated Anganwadi centre cries for help

It is a sad state of affairs at  this Aganwadi centre, which was established in an abandoned building at second block in Rajiv Gandhi Nagar in 2006. Despite odds the owner receives a monthly rent.

Fortunately, the Aganwadi worker here is a blessing in disguise. She is a one-man army who dons various roles — that of a parent, teacher, facilitator and also a cook. She ensures that no children miss the periodical vaccination.  Besides, the centre also serves as a facilitator for pregnant and lactating women’s nutrition programmes.

When Express visited the centre, some 30 odd children were crying and trying to get out of the crowded classroom. Not because they were scared of the dilapidated building’s roof caving in or the nauseating surrounding environment.

They are too small to understand these intricacies. But a nurse had come to administer a anti-viral vaccine on Monday.

Given the poor status of the building and its dirty environs, 30 more parents who would have sent their children have lost interest.

She had also tried to own a building for the centre on a government land for which the parents too promised contibutions. But the space was provided right under the high tension powerline.

Citing this as a reason, the Women and Child Welfare Department officers stopped the project midway even after laying the foundation.

The city Child Development Programme officer Shivakumar admitted that the dilapidated building was not safe for the children.

“We have asked the worker concerned to shift it to a community hall sometime back as another centre was run under the same shelter,” he maintained.

“Getting a new building on rent of `750 per month is difficult in the city,” Shivakumar said.

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