Over 21000 Anganwadi centres in Odisha lack own building, 31000 have no electricity

Thousands of Anganwadi centres across Odisha are grappling with significant infrastructure challenges. More than 21,000 Anganwadi centres in the state are currently operating without their own dedicated buildings.

This was disclosed by Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida in a written statement during the State Assembly session on Saturday.

“Around 21,486 Anganwadi centres are functioning without buildings of their own, which impacts their ability to provide consistent services to communities,” Parida revealed. She further disclosed that over 31,000 centres are not equipped with electricity, posing significant challenges to their operation.

In addition to these issues, a larger concern is the absence of kitchens in many of these facilities. Currently, 47,737 Anganwadi centres lack essential boundary walls, raising serious concerns about the safety and security of these vital pre-school education hubs. 

They are also without proper cooking spaces, impacting their ability to provide necessary nutrition and services to children and mothers. 

These revelations by the Deputy CM underscore the pressing need for improved funding and resource allocation to enhance the infrastructure of Anganwadi centres, which play a crucial role in early childhood education and nutrition across the country.

Anganwadi centres are crucial components of India's Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) programme, which aims to provide healthcare, nutrition, and education to young children and mothers across the country. The infrastructure deficiencies call for an urgent need for government intervention and investment to enhance these essential services.