Hemgir (Sundargarh): With an aim to make all Anganwadi Centers smoke free zones, the Sundargarh administration took a unique initiative ‘Shaktigaon’ project in the district.
As per reports, as many as 2,550 Anganwadi Centers that have their own building will be provided with LPG connection.
The administration has covered around 160 such centers by the project. Apart from LPG cylinders, free stoves have been provided to them. The project, a brainchild of District Collector, Surendra Kumar Meena will not only do away with use of firewood for cooking but also prevent health hazard for children and Anganwadi workers.
A majority of the Anganwadi Centers use smoke generating firewood, while some depend on coal. The project is being funded from the District Mineral Foundation (DMF) and facilitated by the Odisha Rural Development and Marketing Society (ORMAS).
ORMAS Assistant Director Souravmaya Das informed that Rs 1.28cr spent towards the LPG connection and stoves were incurred from the DMF. He said by end of November remaining 2,390 AWCs would be covered and each AWC would get one 19-kg cylinder with refill provision.
Each cylinder is likely to run for four to five months. He said the Anganwadi Centers without own building would also get the benefit after construction of permanent buildings.
PNN
