MORMUGAO: While Goa was prominent on the parameters of good education the grim scene at one of the Anganwadi centres located at upper jetty, behind IOC quarters in headland Sada Mormugao tucked in just seven square metres of a rented space portrait a different picture.
All 16 children coming to this Anganwadi centre have no option but to bear the searing heat of the sun as cement sheet roof transmits all heat inside. Similarly this congested centre which functions from just seven sq mts of space is used as kitchen for cooking meals for the children’s then also as teaching hall, play as well as activity area, office-cum-storeroom for keeping supply of subsidised or free rice, pulses and other items that is supplied to the beneficiaries under Supplementary Nutrition programme of Government, and thus this Anganwadi mostly appears more as a godown and less like any study or play area for tiny tots.
“We are not willingly operating from this congested premise. The actual rent for this premises is Rs 1000 while department pays us Rs 750 per month so we put Rs 250 per month from our own pocket to pay the rent amount to the owner. In fact the department has asked us to find 100 sq mt space with the promise that they would built the centre for us but things are unnecessarily getting delayed though we have identified the land with the help of local ward councillor,” an Anganwadi teacher at the Centre Number 81 said.
Ironically with the temperature soaring to unbearable levels during summer, children coming to this Anganwadi also find difficult to learn or play inside. “There is no space for children to sit or play as hardly one to two sq mt space is left for the students in this godown-cum-Anganwadi that has no toilet facility or any other amenities. With only one table fan the situation becomes worse during summer,” a parent told Herald on condition of anonymity.
Records obtained from the office of Integrated Child Development Services (IDCS) Mormugao revealed that there are total 114 Anganwadi Centres operating under IDCS office Mormugao out of which only 11 Anganwadis operate from non rented premises (IDCS own premises-1, and Govt Primary School premises-10) while 103 Anganwadis operate from rented premises and all these Anganwadis have been facing some or the other issues. Herald investigation revealed that out of total 103 Anganwadis some operate from rented shop or rooms, some from community centres owned by Mormugao Municipality and almost all Anganwadi workers have some or the other complaints that need to be addressed or require attention. Sadly 60 per cent of these Anganwadis have no toilet facilities for children.
While confirming that many Anganwadis in Mormugao need better facilities and amenities, staffs at IDCS office Mormugao said that a proposal has been made to the government to enhance the rent amount so that Anganwadis can be shifted to premises having better facilities. CDPO Mormugao Jyoti Chade also confirmed that a proposal to enhance the facilities at Anganwadi Centres have already been made and department is expected to make the announcement shortly, but when even Chade is unaware.
There are host of issues faced by these Anganwadis in Mormugao taluka and it is high time that the state administration looks back and tries to improve the situation in these Anganwadis, said another parent requesting anonymity.
