Port Blair, Jan 28:
Hundreds of Anganwadi workers and helpers in the islands have been contacting the child development project officers of their blocks daily to get an update on the status of funds. Anganwadi workers have not received funds for the last one years to pay rent for their workspace. Since the Covid-19 outbreak, the workers have been struggling as owners have asked them to either pay or vacate the space. At every Anganwadi center, there are one or two rooms, taken up to accommodate children below six years and the women and child development department is providing rent ranging up to Rs 5000. The funds are transferred to the accounts of workers of the Anganwadi center. Anganwadi centers are operational in all the three districts under the Government of India scheme, Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS). A good number of anganwadi centers are running in rooms that have been taken on rent, and are awaiting funds for the last one year to pay the owners. Due to Covid-19 outbreak and subsequent lockdown imposed in March, all anganwadi centers were closed and workers were asked to deliver dry rations to the homes of the children. As the anganwadi workers too have not received their monthly salaries for the last six months, they too are not in a position to pay the rent from their pockets. There are instances in the islands where anganwadi workers have paid the rent from their own wages to save the centre from closure.
******
