Anganwadi-84: cosmetic changes
A continuous threat to lives of school kids attending classes there
Roof in poor condition with fear of tiles falling on students
Some tiles replaced and cosmetic repairs at times of elections
MLA Ticlo says GSIDC has drawn up some plans for the anganwadi and repairs would be taken up shortly
..............
Govt continues to ignore crumbling Corjuem anganwadi
Anganwadi also used as polling booth during elections
THE GOAN NETWORK
MAPUSA
The upgradation of the Government High School at Ambedem in Sattari has been drawing much appreciation for the BJP-led government in the State; however, the poor condition of an anganwadi in Corjuem-Aldona which has been crying for attention has not been as lucky.
For almost three years, the condition of the structure housing Anganwadi-84 in Cuxem-Corjuem has been in bad shape with the kids attending classes there facing a threat to their life.
The woodwork of the roof is in poor condition and there is fear that some of the tiles may come crashing down on some unsuspecting kids.
“We are very concerned about our children, as the condition of the school is very precarious,” said Shilpa Mhambrey, one of the parents, whose child attends the anganwadi.
Surprisingly, the same structure has been functioning as a polling booth for all the elections for the last many years as it’s very convenient for the surrounding residents.
Whenever elections are announced, some tiles of the structure are replaced and minor repairs done. But major repairs were never carried out on the structure.
About nine months back when The Goan had highlighted the issue, the local MLA and Goa Housing Board Chairman, Glen Ticlo had visited the anganwadi.
The MLA had also requested GSIDC Chairman, Dr Pramod Sawant to take up repair work of the structure for the sake of the little kids.
Ticlo had then informed that the GSIDC chairman had promised to start work on the structure within a month’s time but till today no repairs have been done on the structure.
On Tuesday, when The Goan contacted the Aldona MLA again, he said the government was very much concerned about the anganwadi and work would be taken up on the structure.
“The GSIDC has drawn some plans for the anganwadi. I am sure they will take up the work on it very soon,” Ticlo said.
The structure comprises just two rooms and a verandah with large open space around the school.
Initially, a Marathi primary school functioned from the structure. Somewhere around 2000 the primary school was closed for lack of students.
Later, on the initiative of some of the locals the anganwadi which was being run in the premises of a local chapel was shifted to the shut premises of the Marathi primary school.
Since then anganwadi-84 continues to run in the dilapidated structure.
Some two years back, the government had decided to repair the structure and the Directorate of Women and Child Development had shifted the anganwadi to a private place in order to carry out some repair work on the structure.
But since the private place was in worse condition, the students were brought back to the original structure without carrying out any repairs on it.
