BHADRAK:Anganwadi centres in Bhadrak district continue to face poor infrastructure due to administrative negligence.
The district has 2,435 anganwadi centres including 269 mini-centres. While only 535 centres have buildings of their own, the others run from rented structures or buildings without roof. Children are forced to sit either under trees or verandah of the community centres.
Under Bhadrak Municipality, there are 10 anganwadi centres that function from verandah of private houses. Similar is the situation of anganwadi centres in Basudevpur, Tihidi and Bhadrak blocks. This despite the fact that, the State Government has over the years sanctioned funds for construction of permanent buildings for anganwadi centres.
The ones that run from community centres are forced to remain closed during the functions. According to official reports, the district administration has received `99.27 crore in the last five years towards construction of buildings for 1,476 anganwadi centres. But, only land for 988 anganwadi buildings has been identified so far and work orders issued for 877 centres during the period.
Organising secretary of District Anganwadi Centres Association Santanu Mohapatra said identifying land for anganwadi centres is a major problem. This apart, political interference in land dealings is another problem area. Of 877 anganwadi centres for which work orders have been issued, construction of 342 is pending. District Social Welfare Officer Ashalata Mohanty said funds allotted for anganwadi buildings has been transferred to District Rural Development Agency and BDOs of seven blocks are entrusted with construction.