KOZHIKODE: As many as 645 anganwadis in the coastal belt of Kozhikode district are set to get a facelift, with the State Government finally announcing its Rs 1,441 crore aid package for 187 tsunami-affected villages across the State.
If one goes by the proclaimed fund utilisation period, scores of anganwadis, which are now functioning in the courtyards of houses and adjacent shacks, will have pucca own buildings and other facilities within two years. ‘‘This infrastructure development of anganwadis is being planned in a phased manner,’’ says P Balakrishnan, the programme officer of the Central-sponsored ICDS (Integrated Child Development Service) at the Social Welfare Department.
Among the 20 tsunami-affected villages in the district, seven are in Kozhikode taluk (Kadalundi, Beypore, Panniyankara, Kasaba, Nagaram, Puthiyangadi and Elathur), eight in Koyilandy taluk (Chemancherry, Chengottukavu, Panthalayani, Moodadi, Tikkodi, Iringal, Thurayoor and Viyyoor) and five in Vatakara (Nadakkuthazhe, Vatakara, Chorode, Onchiyam and Azhiyoor).
Though the district suffered no casualties in the tsunami that struck the Indian coast on December 25, 2004, losses of boats and fishing equipment were reported from places including Puthiyappa fishing harbour. The government, however, has decided to establish necessary infrastructure that could withstand another tsunami besides rehabilitation and implementation of various other welfare schemes.
‘‘Only 83 anganwadis out of the total 645 from these 20 villages now have their own building and required facilities. The first phase of the utilisation of the fund for anganwadis will cover all those which possess own land,’’ Balakrishnan points out. The figures show that only around 50 percent of the total 2,542 anganwadis across the district has pucca building.
The development works will include establishment of proper building, compound wall, toilet and playground besides ensuring safe drinking water and electricity connection. The district Social Welfare Department has already sent the plan and estimate for 20 anganwadis, for which the work is expected to be complete in the coming fiscal.
In the second phase, Balakrishnan says, Government would purchase land for remaining anganwadis. The land need not be along the coast, but will be within the affected village.
If the department is unable to purchase land even after negotiations, the government would go for acquisition of required land to ensure basic infrastructure for anganwadis. ‘‘As per the estimates, an average amount of Rs.6 lakh will be spent on each anganwadi in these tsunami-affected villages,’’ the programme officer says.
Providing necessary infrastructure to anganwadis has come in the government’s priority list as social significance of these institutions has been on a rise ever since the launch of ICDS scheme in 1975. The services under this scheme offered from the pregnancy period in the past, now begins right from the adolescent period.
‘‘Impact of the ICDS scheme has been tremendous in the state, which has now a low infant mortality rate (11 in one lakh births compared to the Indian average of 55) which is on par with many developed nations,’’ Balakrishnan asserts.
If one goes by the proclaimed fund utilisation period, scores of anganwadis, which are now functioning in the courtyards of houses and adjacent shacks, will have pucca own buildings and other facilities within two years. ‘‘This infrastructure development of anganwadis is being planned in a phased manner,’’ says P Balakrishnan, the programme officer of the Central-sponsored ICDS (Integrated Child Development Service) at the Social Welfare Department.
Among the 20 tsunami-affected villages in the district, seven are in Kozhikode taluk (Kadalundi, Beypore, Panniyankara, Kasaba, Nagaram, Puthiyangadi and Elathur), eight in Koyilandy taluk (Chemancherry, Chengottukavu, Panthalayani, Moodadi, Tikkodi, Iringal, Thurayoor and Viyyoor) and five in Vatakara (Nadakkuthazhe, Vatakara, Chorode, Onchiyam and Azhiyoor).
Though the district suffered no casualties in the tsunami that struck the Indian coast on December 25, 2004, losses of boats and fishing equipment were reported from places including Puthiyappa fishing harbour. The government, however, has decided to establish necessary infrastructure that could withstand another tsunami besides rehabilitation and implementation of various other welfare schemes.
‘‘Only 83 anganwadis out of the total 645 from these 20 villages now have their own building and required facilities. The first phase of the utilisation of the fund for anganwadis will cover all those which possess own land,’’ Balakrishnan points out. The figures show that only around 50 percent of the total 2,542 anganwadis across the district has pucca building.
The development works will include establishment of proper building, compound wall, toilet and playground besides ensuring safe drinking water and electricity connection. The district Social Welfare Department has already sent the plan and estimate for 20 anganwadis, for which the work is expected to be complete in the coming fiscal.
In the second phase, Balakrishnan says, Government would purchase land for remaining anganwadis. The land need not be along the coast, but will be within the affected village.
If the department is unable to purchase land even after negotiations, the government would go for acquisition of required land to ensure basic infrastructure for anganwadis. ‘‘As per the estimates, an average amount of Rs.6 lakh will be spent on each anganwadi in these tsunami-affected villages,’’ the programme officer says.
Providing necessary infrastructure to anganwadis has come in the government’s priority list as social significance of these institutions has been on a rise ever since the launch of ICDS scheme in 1975. The services under this scheme offered from the pregnancy period in the past, now begins right from the adolescent period.
‘‘Impact of the ICDS scheme has been tremendous in the state, which has now a low infant mortality rate (11 in one lakh births compared to the Indian average of 55) which is on par with many developed nations,’’ Balakrishnan asserts.
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