Upalokayukta Subhash B. Adi has instructed district administrations and the Department of Women and Child Development against engaging anganwadi workers for programmes organised by the government and political parties, including the ruling party.
Anganwadi workers are appointed only to take care of young children and their services should not be utilised for other purposes, he said here on Thursday and warned officials that engaging them for other works without obtaining permission from authorities concerned would be viewed seriously.
This came after Mr. Adi visited several anganwadi centres in the city and found to his surprise that no worker was present in any of the centres.
Prompted by certain incidents in anganwadis in Belgaum, Chickballapur and Kolar districts in which children suffered accidental burns, the Upalokayukta along with Belgaum Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Deepa Cholan visited anganwadi centres in the city. At a centre located on the premises of the Department of Women and Child Development, no anganwadi worker was present. Their visit to other centres revealed that nearly 200 workers had not reported to duty on Thursday on the pretext of attending the Rani Chennamma Vijay Jyoti procession in the morning.
After Mr. Adi was told that only 50 workers were asked to participate in the procession, he asked Deputy Director of the department K.H. Obalappa to submit a report in this connection to the Lokayukta at the earliest.
It may be noted here that anganwadi workers are routinely engaged as audience at programmes organised by the government and the ruling party, and their services are also utilised for publicity and awareness campaigns.
Mr. Adi asked Deputy Commissioner N. Jayaram, who was also present, to organise training programmes for anganwadi workers on childcare, handling LPG cylinders, stoves, electrical installations, etc., which, he said, would go a long way in ensuring safety of young children.
Illegal hoardings
Mr. Adi also directed the Belgaum City Corporation to remove all illegal hoardings and flex boards in the city.
