Kalimela: An Anganwadi center built at a cost of more than Rs 4 lakh was inaugurated at MPV-81 village under this block in Malkangiri district Wednesday.
If you think what is new, the answer is, villagers have got the center’s building constructed without taking a single pie from the district administration.
MPV-81 village consisting of four wards, ward no-10, 11, 12 and 13 were established in 1979. Few years later, an Anganwadi center was set up here under Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) here in ward number 10.
Over the years, the population of the village has increased manifold.
As per census, while about 600 families are residing in this village, 60 children are enrolled in this center. 23 pregnant women and 22 lactating mothers are also getting benefits from this center.
The beneficiaries and children residing in ward number 11, 12 and 13 have been facing a lot of problem as the Anganwadi center in ward no 10 is about one-and-a-half kilometers away from their wards.
There is canal on the way to the center and the children cross the canal are putting their lives in danger. The pregnant and lactating mothers of the wards are also in equal fix. They are often missing advantages of various government schemes introduced from time to time due to the distance.
“We have been demanding for at least a mini Anganwadi center for our village in this ward. In this regard, we met elected people’s representatives, the CDPO and the district administration many a time and pleaded for a mini Anganwadi center. But none is paying heed to our demands,” complained some villagers including Khokan Biswas, Balay Sarkar, Prashant Goldar, Tapas Deo, Sahadev Sarkar, Deben Mandal, Geeta Sena, Kamala Mistry, Gitika Sarkar, Mamuni Mandal and Bhanumati Mandal.
Without any further the villagers took the administration apathy in their stride and without waiting for any sanctioned good, they decided to pool a fund and get their own mini Anganwadi center .
After spending more than 4 lakh rupees. They got the center inaugurated at the hands of village’s senior citizen Nitay Chandra Dey and MPV-81 High School headmaster Krutibasa Samantaray.
The villagers have also given appointment to a village woman named Dhani Ray to teach their children and have provided text books and necessary stationery to 50 children.
When contacted, Kalimela block development officer (BDO) said, “I have not received any complaints from the villagers. And I have just come to know about it. I will look into it,”
PNN
