CANACONA: While Canacona prepares to welcome a Film City within its borders, the irony persists that the very institutions nurturing the fundamentals of life—namely, the balwadis in the taluka—are in deplorable condition.
Canacona taluka houses 83 balwadis, many of which occupy dilapidated premises, with 29 lacking essential toilet facilities, crucial for the young toddlers they serve.
Among the 83 balwadis, 52 operate from rented premises, often unsuitable, some even housed in makeshift huts and temporary sheds initially built for firewood storage. The owners of these premises receive monthly rents ranging from Rs 4,000 to Rs 6,000.
Only 11 balwadis have their own premises, while another 11 operate within Government Primary School buildings. Eight are in community structures, and one operates from a disaster management cell.
Many balwadis are located in precarious spots, raising concerns about children falling victim to snake bites, particularly during the monsoon. For instance, the balwadi at Vaizawada in Shristal poses dangers, with children navigating rickety stone steps for entry. Surrounding rubble walls and scattered wooden planks increase the risk of injury.
“Six months ago, a child needed medical attention after falling on these steps, requiring three sutures,” revealed Nitesh Velip from the area.
Sadly, no official complaints have been lodged about these dire conditions, as those involved are often familiar with each other, originating from the same village.
“I’ve raised this issue at least three times in the gram sabha, but I’m always asked to suggest or provide an alternative site for the balwadi,” Velip lamented.
He stressed that elected representatives, including panchayat members and bureaucrats, must address this issue, crucial for the future of young children and the nation.
“It’s puzzling how the government, eager to acquire land for institutes like IIT and NIT, neglects acquiring a mere 500 sq mts for a balwadi,” Velip remarked.
Janardhan Bhandari from Poinguinim echoed the sentiment. “It seems the government prioritises big projects for high commissions, while small projects like balwadis receive little attention,” he observed.
Vikas Bhagat, General Secretary of Goenkar, an NGO in Canacona, criticised local MLA and Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar for paying mere lip service to the marginalised.
“While he boasts of constructing homes for the poor through shram dhan, why not utilise the same effort for constructing balwadis?” Bhagat questioned, asserting that a house benefits only a single family, whereas a balwadi benefits the entire community.
