JOIN USUnion Minister for Petroleum Veerappa Moily on Sunday inaugurated the Vedanta Balashakti Project amid protest by a section of anganwadi workers and assistants, at Nandi Rangamandir. The Vedanta Foundation will take over the anganwadi kendras in the Chikkaballapur Lok Sabha constituency.
The programme was jointly organised by district administration, Zilla Panchayat, Women and Child Development Department and Vedanta Foundation.
Moily said that the foundation would effect major changes and give all together a new identity to the anganwadis in the region.
“It is matter of joy that the foundation, which has played a major role in strengthening the anganwadi kendras in the states of Rajasthan, Odisha and Chattishgarh, is entering the constituency,” he added.
“The 2,635 Kendras in the constituency, spread across 4 districts—Bangalore Urban (222), Bangalore Rural (1,207), Ramanagara (67) and Chikkaballapur (1,139) will be developed. The basic amenities will be provided at the Kendras. Further nutritious food will be provided to the students,” he added.
Moily said as many as 43 children per 1,000 were dying due to malnutrition in many districts of the State. The lack of nutritious food is severely affecting the growth of children particularly in rural areas, he added.
The foundation has been introduced in the constituency to solve malnutrition and other problems among the children. Moily said that if the foundation succeeded in its efforts, it would be introduced in another parts of the State. The foundation apart from providing basic infrastructure at the anganwadi kendras will also provide nutritious food to children, he added.
Vedanta foundation National Project Head S Chamundi thanked Moily for giving an opportunity to serve in Karnataka. The foundation, which has successfully managed many projects in other states will not disappoint the leader in his home state, she added.
Legislators N Sampangi, N H Shivashankar Reddy, Deputy Commissioner Dr N Manjula, Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer B S Shekarappa and other were present on the occasion.
Ministers absent
Most of the State government ministers remained absent during the inauguration programme. Deputy Chief Minister R Ashoka, too stayed away from the programme. District In-charge Minister a Narayanaswamy, Women and Child Development Department Minister Kalakappa Bandi, Labour Minister B N Bachegowda, Excise Minister M P Renukacharya and Chikkaballapur legislator K P Bachegowda, who was supposed to preside over the function, too remained absent.
Tight police security
Tight police security was provided to the programme following opposition to the programme by a section of ang- anwadi workers. The Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) members had criticised the take over of anganwadis by the foundation. A posse of policemen were posted at the venue.