Chinnara Bhavan, attraction of new anganwadi bldg

A model anganwadi centre building, at Tarikambla in Bajpe on the city’s outskirts, was inaugurated by Ivan D’Souza, MLC and parliamentary secretary to the chief minister recently.

It was an occasion for celebration for 42 anganwadi children who had been shifted from the old and dilapidated anganwadi building to the new building.

A sum of Rs 31 lakh was spent on the construction of a full-fledged building – including Rs 3 lakh from the Women and Child Development Department, the grant from elected representatives and the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS).

The building is shaped octagonally and has a ‘Chinnara Bhavana’ with a dining room and a restroom. Ornamental plants, medicinal plants, flowering plants and shelter trees adorn the premises of this anganwadi centre.

The children have play articles on the premises. For the safety of the children, a compound wall has also been constructed.

The roof of the building has tiles while the walls have no cement but have been the natural beautry maintained. The floors are laid with granite. The centre also has a full-fledged kitchen and a toilet. The interior walls of the building are adorned with drawings and writings that aid the growth of the children.

Gram Panchayat member Siraj Hussain has played a vital role in the construction of the model anganwadi building. Having realised that the old building was in a dilapidated condition, Hussain ensured that a government land was sanctioned for the new building adjacent to the old one. He worked tirelessly to get funds too from different sources. Hussain said that work worth Rs 10 lakh had been undertaken using the funds from the MGNREGS.

“Children of rich parents study in kindergartens and nursery schools. It is only the children from poor families that go to anganwadi centres. We wanted to ensure that such children have all the facilities in the anganwadi centres,” said Hussain, adding, “Additional play materials will be procured for the centre soon.”

Sundar Poojary, Women and Child Development Department deputy director, said that, normally, an anganwadi building is constructed at a cost of Rs 8 lakh. “The Department has sanctioned Rs 3 lakh. With the efforts of the Gram Panchayat members, a model anganwadi centre building was constructed,” added Poojary.