At Mataur, anganwadis await ration

Pavneet Singh Chadha

Tribune News Service

Mohali, December 12

While the district administration claims to have spent Rs 81.5 lakh this year to provide supplementary nutrition to children below six years of age besides nursing mothers, many anganwadis have not received ration.

Four anganwadis in Mataur village (including two mini-centres) have not been provided with rice, sugar, ghee, wheat and panjiri due to administrative delays. Sources said other centres in  Balongi circle had not received ration for more than two months.  

Lakhwinder Kaur, a helper at a centre in the village, said that the centre had not received ration for over a month. “I have been feeding biscuits to children,” she said.

Crammed in one room 

Anganwadis usually function in a community (panchayat) building with limited space and without proper infrastructure. One such centre in the village has been allotted a dimly-lit crammed room, adjacent to a dispensary. 

Workers and helpers there complained that they had been forced to teach students in the open veranda with children sitting on the floor.  There is no provision for a toilet or potable drinking water for children. 

“One room has been allocated to us. It cannot accommodate all students and lacks power connection. So, the children sit in the open. We do not have chairs,” said a teacher. 

Jaswinder Kaur, another worker, said, “Children defecate in the open. There is no water supply in the toilet. In the monthly reports, we have mentioned the shortcomings to supervisors but nothing has changed,” she said. 

Pangs  of merger  

Anganwadi workers and helpers across the state had recently protested against  decision to start pre-nursery classes in government primary schools. They feared that the decision would lead to the closure of angawadis. 

The decision has caused confusion among the ranks with some centres being merged with schools. Jaswinder Kaur said, “We have been told that two centres would be shifted to a nearby government school. But, the school also lacks space. The school authorities say we can use the verandah. But how can we cook meals in the open? A separate room should be allotted for the anganwadi. 

Amarjit Kaura, District Programme Officer, Mohali, said bills for the procurement of ration had been passed and the order had been placed with the Food Corporation of India (FCI). The centres will receive supplies by December 25.”  

Official delay 

• Four anganwadis in Mataur village (including two mini-centres) have not been provided with rice, sugar, ghee, wheat and panjiri due to administrative delays. Sources said other centres in entire Balongi circle had not received ration for more than two months.

Mayoral poll process

Chandigarh: The process to appoint the new city Mayor, along with senior deputy and deputy mayors, has begun. Their term ends on December 31. The UT Administration is in the process of deciding the election date. The MC had written to the Administration to decide the same. The election is likely to be held in the first week of January. Earlier, the election used to be held on January 1. —TNS

Flower show at PU from tomorrow

Chandigarh: The horticulture division of Panjab University (PU), Chandigarh, will organise the 10th chrysanthemum exhibition at Prof RC Paul Rose Garden in the university from December 14 to 17.

• Anil Thakur, Divisional Engineer (Horticulture) informed that the rose garden had been given a new look this year for the exhibition. It has been made handicapped-friendly.
• There will be 15 new varieties of  chrysanthemum with around 4,500 plants on display. —TNS