Corporation to build and renovate city anganwadis

The civic body had completed the interior and exterior designs of anganwadi centres and decided to adopt a suitable design based on the availability of land. “MPs and MLAs will be given the option to choose the design if the particular anganwadi centre is built from MP and MLA funds. The designs are created in a way to provide child-friendly facilities and vibrant space,” G Prakash, Chennai Corporation Commissioner said.

There are around 1,080 anganwadi centres in the city, from which more than 2 lakh children are benefited. Eight designs have been finalised by the civic body. Of the total anganwadi centres, 91 centres are functioning in the premises of Chennai Corporation schools. Even though the civic body maintains the centres, the funds for several schemes are being provided by the State Social Welfare Department. Meanwhile, the civic body had already constituted a team to survey the requirements in the centres and the modifications to be brought in.

“Once the team that comprises civic engineers submit its report, the civic body will start improvement works,” a source said. The survey and renovation proposal is following the announcement of Poshan Abhiyan programme, which aims to control anaemia among children. The source added that most of the anganwadi centres in Chennai lack electricity, water and toilet facilities. Some anganwadis are damaged and their surroundings lack sanitation.

As per the Poshan Abhiyaan Programme, the civic body had conducted a school-level assessment among the children to ascertain the level of nutrition deficiency.