JOIN USAnganwadis in DK to go air-conditioned
The next time you find parents in rural parts of Mangaluru and Bantwal taluks vying for admitting their wards in anganwadis, don’t be surprised. In a first-of-its-kind step, the Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat is all set to turn the 10 government-run pre-nursery centres into air-conditioned (AC) facilities.
It will be the first of many steps to attract more children to anganwadis. The very decision stems from the fact that humidity level is high in both Mangaluru and Bantwal taluks throughout the year.
ZP CEO M R Ravi told DH, “To begin with, two anganwadis — Kenchagudde anganwadi coming under Kateel GP in Mangaluru taluk and Shamboor School, Narikombu GP in Bantwal — will be equipped with ACs. “Each centre has 15 children in different age groups. Each unit is estimated to cost Rs 30,000 and Vijaya Bank is expected to take up the works under corporate social responsibility.”
It is also aimed at bridging the gap between haves and have-nots as anganwadi children belonging to humble backgrounds are deprived of such privileges, Ravi said.
Sundar Poojary, deputy director of Women and Child Development department, said, “In all, 220 children from 10 anganwadis will benefit from a cooler experience in the coming days. The other eight anganwadis identified for the hitech facility are - Kadri school (city corporation limits, Mangaluru taluk) - 25 children; Kerebailu, Ullal Town Municipal Council, Bantwal taluk (15 children); Golinela, Ullal Town Municipal Council (20 children); Shantigudde, Bajpe GP, Mangaluru taluk (20 children); Kumpala, Someshwara GP, Mangaluru taluk (20 children); Padavu Shakti Nagar, city corporation limits (40 children); Bolur and Bolar anganwadis, city corporation limits (25 students each).
Poojary said, those anganwadis functioning in own buildings with better infrastructure facilities like RCC structure and compound wall are identified for the new facility.
Local authorities will be asked to pay the electricity bills, which will go up once the anganwadis turn air-conditioned. The works are expected to be completed within a fortnight.
DH News Service