2 anganwadis in M’luru and Bantwal get ACs, workers slam move

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, June 21,2017:  At a time when anganwadis in the state are functioning without basic facilities, the Dakshina Kannada zilla panchayat has granted funds to install air conditioners in two anganwadis in the district.

Zilla panchayat president Meenakshi Shantigodu and anganwadi workers slammed CEO M R Ravi and ZP members’ decision to allot ACs to Kenchagudde anganwadi centre, Koraga colony, Mangaluru and Shamboor anganwadi in Bantwal.

In May, DK zilla panchayat installed two ACs in these centres with the help of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds provided by a nationalized bank.

"I had requested the CEO not to install ACs when the proposal came to me. Instead, I had asked them to utilize the funds to provide basic facilities. I had also asked them to repair anganwadi buildings. I will not allow authorities to install more ACs in anganwadis," Meenakshi said.

In March, thousands of anganwadi workers had protested in Bengaluru demanding salary hike.

"Anganwadi centres in Dakshina Kannada district don’t have basic facilities. There are no mats for kids to sit and some buildings are in bad shape. Roofs of many centres leak when it rains. We don’t want ACs, we need funds to upgrade facilities," said an anganwadi worker.

"The government doesn’t provide funds to anganwadis. We spend from our pockets to run the centres. Government should rectify these issues first," said another worker.