There has been a steep fall in enrolment of children at the anganwadi in the 73rd ward of the Corporation. At present, only 50 children are enrolled at the centre, located at Old Valaima Nagar, against the capacity of 150. Parents don’t think the anganwadi to be a safe place for their children, because its four buildings are in a scary state. Spread over two acres, the buildings were built in 1982 to cater to the needs of residents in Otteri, Pulianthope, Jamila and Perambur Barracks Road. Now, they are used to run a centre for the care of children, which comes under the Integrated Child Development Scheme. The centre also provides supplementary food to expectant mothers and mothers with infants.
The walls at these buildings seem to be crumbling; asbestos sheets are missing on portions of the roof. Mosquito menace is unbearable as the centre is surrounded by garbage and sewage. During monsoon, snakes and other reptiles creep in to prey upon the rodents running wild at the centre.
Moreover, children ease themselves in the open as the washrooms are not in a usable condition, having been used to dump kitchen waste. The tap fittings and other amenities need to be repaired. “We are poor and find it difficult to make both ends meet. We send our children to these anganwadis hoping that at least they get food on time and are safe. Seeing the cracked walls and damaged ceilings, we feel insecure about sending them to this anganwadi,” said K. Vasanthi, a parent who is a daily-wage labourer in Otteri. The staff are also not sufficient in number. The anganwadi has only four staff as against the sanctioned strength of eight. The remaining posts have been kept vacant for many years now. Officials of the Department of Social Welfare said that considering the condition of the buildings, many parents had pulled out their children from these centres. While the Social Welfare Department meets the expenses for noon meal, wages for staff and helper, the maintenance of the centre comes under the ambit of the local body.
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“The centre will soon get a facelift,” said a Corporation official.