Porvorim anganwadi on verge of closure

the goan I networkrPORVORIMr r Initially, the Anganwadi Center No 57 was housed in a small room of 12 sq mtrs, covered with asbestos sheets at Pundalik Nagar, and there were no electricity or toilet facilities for the children. The rent of the room was Rs 1,000 per month. Since the owner of the premises issued notice to vacate the premises, this center was shifted in a house in Housing Board Colony in November 2015. Now, the house owner has asked the Anganwadi teacher to vacate premises by September 30. r The Anganwadi Center in-charge, Jeevan Shet said the house owner had given her the house in Housing Board Colony for a short period. The rent of the Anganwadi Center is Rs 3,000, while she gets only Rs 200 from the government. rThe local panchayat is paying her Rs 600 and the balance she has to pay from her pocket. There are 15 students on the roll and she caters to 20 beneficiaries of pregnant women and 60 adolescent girls in the age 14 to 18 years. rShe supplies ration to 70 children below two-and-half years. Presently, she has stock of 50 bags of rice and cereals, which has to be distributed every month. rShe said she has started looking out for an alternate premises, but it is very difficult to get premises in Porvorim for less than Rs 3,000 per month. rShe has approached all the government authorities concerned including the local MLA and North Goa MP Shripad Naik, but in vain. Further, she has not received rent from the State government for the period 2011 to June 2017 though the bills have been sent to the ICDS, Mapusa. rThis is a social work and the government should consider the case sympathetically and provide space in government quarters to run the Anganwadi and also settle the rent bills immediately. Otherwise, much against her, will be forced to close this Anganwadi Center, said Shet.