Dilapidated Anganwadi Centre Poses Serious Risk to Children; Villagers Demand Immediate Action

Boden:16/06 A serious concern has emerged from Kampur village under Larka Gram Panchayat of Boden Block in Nuapada district, where the Adarsha Anganwadi Centre No. 1 has fallen into a severely dilapidated condition, posing a potential threat to the safety of young children attending the centre. Despite repeated complaints from local residents and public representatives, neither the concerned departmental authorities nor the block administration have taken any concrete steps to address the issue. Established in 1982, the Anganwadi centre is one of the oldest in the village and has been serving the community for over four decades. However, after nearly 44 years of continuous use, the building is now reportedly in a dangerously weakened state. Every day, small children continue to attend classes in the deteriorating structure, raising fears among parents and villagers that an accident could occur at any moment. Residents allege that the condition of the building has worsened to such an extent that it poses a constant danger to the lives of innocent children. Concerned parents have repeatedly brought the matter to the notice of the Larka Sarpanch and the local Panchayat Samiti Member. In turn, both representatives have reportedly informed the administration on several occasions and raised the issue repeatedly during Panchayat Samiti meetings. However, villagers claim that their appeals have largely gone unheard. According to sources, Panchayat Samiti Member Amit Singh Deo recently raised the matter once again during a Panchayat Samiti meeting and urged the authorities to take immediate action. Despite these efforts, no administrative officer has reportedly visited the site for inspection, conducted an inquiry, or initiated any remedial measures. The continued inaction of the authorities has sparked frustration among local residents. Villagers are demanding an urgent inspection of the Anganwadi centre and have called for either immediate repair of the existing structure or the construction of a new building to ensure the safety of children. Warning of a possible agitation, parents and villagers have stated that if prompt action is not taken, they will be compelled to stage a demonstration and gherao the offices of the Block Development Officer (BDO) and the Child Development Project Officer (CDPO). The focus is now on the district administration and concerned departments, as residents await swift intervention before any unfortunate incident occurs. The people of Kampur village hope that the issue will finally receive the attention it deserves and that necessary measures will be taken to safeguard the future and safety of their children.