State-of-the-art anganwadi opens at Bajpe

MANGALURU: Children from BPL families in Tarikambla area of Bajpe area are a happy lot as they will henceforth enjoy the cosiness of a state-of-the-art anganawadi centre that is on par with any private playschool.

The playschool is a fine example of what active participation from the gram panchayat, government departments and corporates could together do.

When the general impression of a typical anganwadi centre is that of a thatched building with leaking roof and red-oxide or cement floor, the one at Tarikambla boasts of an octagonal building, Bala Bhavana, with windows on seven sides and a hexagonal semi-open structure. Siraj Hussain, president of the Bala Vikasa Samiti, who personally monitored the work, said the Bala Bhavana will be used for teaching purpose while the Chinnara Bhavana will be used as a veranda-of-sorts where the children can eat in the fresh air.

The anganwadi, built at a total cost of Rs 31 lakh in a little over three cents, also boasts of a garden for the children to play in on one side and a walking bridge on the other.

While the department of women and child welfare released Rs 3 lakh, politicians cutting across political lines, like Rajya Sabha MP Oscar Fernandes, MLCs Kota Srinivas Poojary, Ivan D’Souza and Pratapchandra Shetty, Zilla Panchayat member Vasanthi Kishore and former MLA Abhayachandra Jain together got Rs 12 lakh released from the government for the anganwadi.

A sum of Rs 5 lakh for construction of the two buildings, Rs 4 lakh for retaining wall and Rs 95,000 for the walking bridge was released under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act. While the Bajpe taluk panchayat contributed Rs 50,000, a company in the SEZ sponsored the garden and playing equipment costing Rs 1.5 lakh. A few locals got the electrical and plumbing works done on their own. Siraj said MRPL has assured to sponsor cycles and sporting accessories for children.