This Aanganwadi scares kids away

Leaky roof, bandicoots wreak havoc

Y Maheswara Reddy | NT

Bengaluru: Parents from economically weaker sections had wholeheartedly welcomed the opening of an anganwadi centre at Sampangi Rama Nagar in Shivajinagar Assembly constituency more than a decade ago by the Women and Child Development Department. They saw it as a safe shelter for their children.

However, of late they are hesitant to send their children to this anganwadi over safety concerns. It has a leaky roof and hence is no longer a safe during the monsoon. This is despite the repair works carried out a year ago.

The teachers claim they get worried whenever it rains, and have to take measures to prevent children from getting drenched.

“The roof was repaired last year, but the condition remains the same. As of now, children are not coming to this centre. Parents visit here to collect food for their children. I hope the leaky roof will be repaired soon and the children return,’’ said Parameshwaramma, teacher at the centre.

The centre is also teeming with bandicoots. According to the teacher, the bandicoots enter the anganwadi through a hole in the wall it shares with an abandoned room that is filled with garbage.

“Bandicoots have made a hole in the wall. The more I try to fill it with gravel and cloth they somehow find a way out. The bandicoots have become a menace,” she said.

Garbage and an unhygienic atmosphere at the adjacent room are also proving to be a health hazard for the children. “We have requested the BBMP pourakarmikas to remove garbage from the abandoned room, but in vain. We have also informed the headmistress of Government Kann a d a Higher Primary School to do the needful,’’ she said.

Social activists have expressed concern over the condition of the anganwadi and want the authorities concerned to fix the problem at the earliest. “Can any parent send his children to this anganwadi centre that is known for leaky roofs, bandicoots and unhygienic atmosphere? I do not know how come the BBMP health department failed to remove garbage? I appeal to the BBMP authorities to remove garbage and keep the premises clean,’’ said A.R. Shashi Kumar, a High Court advocate and social activist.

Expressing dismay and concern over the pathetic condition of the anganwadi center, H.M. Venkatesh, a social activist, has emphasized the need of keeping the anganwadi centre clean. “Clean and hygienic environment will encourage more parents to send their children to the anganwadi centre which will help the children to get nutritious food and also help the parents to go to work,’’ said Venkatesh.

Meanwhile, Child Development Project manager Meenakshi Kabadi has assured to look into the matter. “I came to know that the roof of the anganwadi centre was repaired a year ago. I will take a stringent action against the contractor for the substandard work,’’ said Meenakshi.