Haveri
At least 210 anganwadi buildings in the the district are in bad shape after last year’s rains and floods. As many as 259 anganwadi buildings were partially damaged after last year’s monsoon season. 49 anganwadi buildings were repaired for Rs 85 lakh last year, while some are still under repair. The remaining 210 buildings are in poor condition. Due to a lack of funds, the department is yet to repair them, and classes are being held in these damaged buildings even as children’s lives are at stake.
According to department sources, the district has a total of 1,991 anganwadi centres including 323 in urban and 1,668 in rural areas. Among these, 1,481 centres have permanent buildings 283 centres are being run in buildings on a rental basis. The sheet roofs of some anganwadi buildings have been blown away by strong winds, while some have collapsed. The walls of some buildings have developed cracks.
Parents are worried about sending their children to anganwadi due to their risky conditions. Meanwhile, teachers are in a dilemma whether to conduct classes in these damaged buildings or not.
As many as 30 children are attending anganwadi classes at Hiremanakatti village of Shiggaon taluk even though the building is in bad shape from last year. There is no safety for children as well as anganwadi staff in this building. Children are having food in such a building and it is likely to pose more danger this year, said Neelanagouda, a resident of the village.
Srinivas Aladarthi, deputy director of women and child development department informed that 82 anganwadi buildings have been damaged and required Rs 7.88 crore to repair them. Other buildings are partially damaged and repair works are going on, he said.
