Defunct Hand Pump, No Proper Access Road: Dongripada Anganwadi Centre in Distress, Children and Mothers Face Hardships

Boden, July 8 Basic infrastructure at the Dongripada Anganwadi Centre under Palsada Gram Panchayat in Boden block of Nuapada district has deteriorated, causing immense inconvenience to children, Anganwadi workers, and beneficiaries. The hand pump installed at the centre has remained defunct, while the absence of a proper access road has further aggravated the situation, particularly during the monsoon season. The non-functional hand pump has created an acute shortage of safe drinking water at the centre. Children, pregnant women, and nursing mothers, who regularly visit the Anganwadi, are facing significant difficulties due to the lack of an adequate water supply. Residents allege that despite the problem persisting for a long time, no effective steps have been taken to restore the facility. The condition of the approach road has also become a major concern. With no proper road leading to the Anganwadi Centre, visitors are forced to walk through a narrow, uneven pathway. During the rainy season, the route becomes muddy and slippery, making it extremely difficult and unsafe for children, Anganwadi staff, and expectant mothers to reach the centre. Adding to the hardship, the overgrown vegetation surrounding the pathway has increased the risk of snake and other reptile encounters, raising serious concerns about the safety of children and staff. Parents have expressed fear over sending their children to the centre under such conditions. Local residents have urged the district administration and the concerned departments to take immediate action by repairing the defunct hand pump, constructing a proper approach road, and improving the basic infrastructure at the Anganwadi Centre. They said that ensuring safe drinking water and easy accessibility is essential for the effective implementation of child welfare and maternal health programmes. The villagers have appealed for urgent intervention, stating that the well-being and safety of young children and mothers should be treated as a priority and that the long-pending issues deserve immediate attention from the authorities.