Anganwadi Woes In Rains: Leaky Roofs, Damp, Cracked Walls, Waterlogging; 2k Anganwadis In Bhopal Function From Single Rented Rooms

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): The monsoon has compounded the woes of pre-school children at the Anganwadi Kendras in the state capital. Waterlogging, damp walls, leaky roofs, and slushy access to the centres are some of the issues the tiny tots are subjected to during the rainy season.

Adding to safety concerns, most of the structures housing these centres do not have boundary walls.

There are a total of 1,872 Anganwadi Centres in Bhopal. Almost all of them function from single rented rooms and are meant for children in the age group 6 months to 6 years, besides pregnant and lactating women.

-Gas Rahat Colony, Karond

Whenever it rains heavily, water starts dripping from the roof of the Anganwadi centre in Gas Rahat Colony, JP Nagar, Karond. The centre doesn’t have a boundary wall and so its premises are used as an open urinal. Occasionally, drunkards leave empty bottles of liquor around the place.

Tehzeeb Sultan, the Anganwadi worker posted at the centre, said that a total of 104 children, including 28 of 3-6 years age group, are enrolled at the centre. She said that the walls are damp and that water accumulates around the room. “I have complained to the sector supervisor. I hope the problems will be resolved soon,” she said.

-Odiya Colony Chhola area

At the Anganwadi in Odiya Colony in the Chhola area of Old City, rainwater accumulates on both the sides of the centre for want of drainage. Children have to walk through the accumulated water to enter the centre. Due to leakage from the roof, walls are damp.

-Sarai Sikanadari Anganwadi

The boundary wall of the Anganwadi at Sarai Sikanadari near the Bhopal Railway Station, has many gaps, floor tiles are broken and a crack runs across the entire length of the wall. Construction material is dumped near the entrance to the centre.

Jyoti Ken, the supervisor of Sector Station Area 02, under which the Anganwadi falls, said that due to higher elevation of the road, water collects around the centre when it rains heavily but gets drained away within an hour or so. “It is the BMC which should deal with this matter. Our department has nothing to do with it,” she said. A total of 124 kids are enrolled at the Anganwadi.

-Aman Colony Anganwadi.

On the grounds of the Anganwadi Centre in Aman Colony, also in the Old City, a phisalpatti (slide) for children stands surrounded by accumulated water. Anganwadi worker Reshma Sultan said that when it rains, water seeps through the windows even when they are closed. “If the showers are heavy, the roof also starts leaking. The access to the centre is muddy and slushy and there is no boundary wall,” she added.