Amid opposition by anganwadi workers over the entry of mining major Vedanta in the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) in the State, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas M. Veerappa Moily inaugurated the Vedanta Bal Shakti project in Chickballapur on Sunday.
The project, a support service for the State government’s anganwadi programme run under ICDS, aims to benefit over one lakh children in the age group of one to six years in the districts of Chickballapur, Bangalore Rural, Bangalore Urban and Ramanagaram.
The private organisation will provide two sets of uniforms, preschool textbooks, play material and also an extra meal a day to 1.1 lakh anganwadi children in these districts.
‘A new beginning’
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Moily said the collaboration marked a new beginning. “As per the memorandum of understanding (MoU), Vedanta group will help the administrations of the four districts fill gaps and resources in service components of ICDS such as nutrition, pre-schooling, capacity building of workers and empowerment of community.”
Responding to the demand by some anganwadi workers that the centres should be located in government buildings that have toilets and that LPG cylinders should be provided, the Minister assured them that the demands would be fulfilled.
“As per the MoU, the Vedanta Foundation will spend a total of Rs. 75 crore at Rs. 15 crore a year on better maintenance of 2,635 anganwadis in these districts, including 1,139 centres in Chickballapur. By making better facilities available in anganwadis, we are enabling our children to have a better future,” Mr. Moily said.
‘End to water woes’
He said that in a move to solve the water shortage problem in Chickballapur district, Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar would launch work on the drinking water project in the last week of December.
S. Chamundi, National Project Head of Vedanta Foundation, Chickballapur Deputy Commissioner N. Manjula, N. Sampangi (Bagepalli), N.H. Shivshankar Reddy (Gowribidanur), Venkatswamy (Devanahalli), all MLAs and zilla panchayat members from Chickballapur were present.
Although the MoU was signed between the Department of Women and Child Development and Vedanta Foundation, no Ministers from the State were present.
