Anganwadi buildings in a dilapidated condition in Pudur Block

Parents and social workers in Thoothukudi request new Anganwadi buildings due to unsafe conditions in current rental buildings.

The dilapidated state of Anganwadi buildings in Pudur block of Thoothukudi district has prompted parents and social workers to request for new buildings for Anganwadi centres, which are currently operating in dangerous rental buildings.

Anganwadi centres have been functioning across the State to provide healthy nutrition for the children under five years. In Thoothukudi district, Anganwadi centres operate across 12 blocks, including Kovilpatti, Kyathat, Vilathikulam and Pudur. These centres provide meals to the children, operating six days a week excluding Sunday.

In Pudur block, the centres are divided into three sections with around 97 centers operating under these subdivisions. The centers are largely helpful for the mothers in the rural areas allowing them to work without worrying about the safety of the children, as the centres have Anganwadi workers responsible for taking care of the children.

While many centres are functioning in newly constructed buildings, several others in Kambathupatti, Maniyakaranpatti and M. Kottur are operating in deteriorated old rental buildings. These buildings have cracked walls, torn floors, spalling of concrete roofs and unsafe conditions that put the children at risk.

Selvi (name changed), mother of a child in Kambathupatti Anganwadi, said, “Most of the women in the village are rural workers and we leave our children at the centres for the whole day.” She further stated that the current condition of the building is discouraging people from sending their children to centres.

A. Varatharajan, president of Karisal Bhoomi Farmers Association, said, “Most of the Anganwadi centres are rental buildings and some even operate their centres in corridors of these buildings.” He urged the government to construct new buildings for Anganwadi centres operating in unsafe rented buildings to ensure the safety of the children.

A government official stated that the construction of new centres had been sanctioned under MGNREGS and the work would begin soon. The current unsafe centres will be relocated soon to safer buildings.