51 anganwadis in Ernakulam yet to receive fitness certificates
The Ernakulam district has 2,858 anganwadis, which are supposed to get their fitness certified by assistant engineers of the local bodies concerned. In the case of 51 anganwadis, the delay in the issue of fitness certificates has been attributed to the non-availability of assistant engineers due to transfer and postings rather than safety issues. Among these, 32 anganwadis are in the Palluruthy region alone.
'They are likely to be inspected and issued fitness certificates in the next fortnight,' said Women and Child Development department sources.
Cobra found in anganwadi
The recent incident in which a cobra was found inside the almirah of an anganwadi in Karumaloor panchayat has raised serious safety and infrastructural concerns about anganwadis.
In this case, the anganwadi remains surrounded by ripe paddy fields and a window pane was missing through which the snake is suspected to have sneaked in.
'We have replaced the window pane since then and have taken steps to clean the area in front of the anganwadi since the other three sides are paddy fields. We have also covered the air holes with nets,' said Sabitha Naser, president, Karumaloor panchayat.
Infrastructural and safety issues
Unsafe surroundings of anganwadi buildings, like abandoned plots with dense thicket overgrowth or a precarious tree in the neighbourhood, do pose a safety hazard, admit department sources. Around 600 anganwadis in the district do not have own buildings and operate either out of rented buildings or local body buildings for free.
'The problem is that a uniform rent is fixed for both urban and rural areas for anganwadi buildings. This makes it near impossible to find rented buildings in urban local bodies like Kochi Corporation. Low rented buildings come embedded with infrastructural and safety issues. Since land is at a premium in Kochi, anganwadis are built on one cents and two cents and in rare cases even over drains. The State government should allot dedicated space for setting up anganwadis with necessary infrastructure,' said M.G. Aristotle, Congress councillor in Kochi Corporation.
A child development project officer said that since last year anganwadis are subjected to safety audit every three months and that they are no longer allowed to function out of unfit buildings.
Payment
The lowly monthly payment for anganwadi workers and helpers, ₹13,000 and ₹9,000 respectively, and the archaic rule for appointment also add to the problems.
While SSLC pass is the criteria for appointment as workers, those who have failed SSLC are supposed to be appointed as helpers with the exception being given in scheduled caste and scheduled tribe areas.
'It is difficult in our State to find those who have failed SSLC these days. In such cases, we have to share helpers with anganwadis in the neighbouring wards provided the ward members concerned accede,' said a woman and child development department official.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
18 hours ago
- News18
Assam: 5.2 hectares of Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary cleared of Parthenium
Morigaon (Assam) [India], August 10 (ANI): As a part of a three-day campaign of Parthenium Free Pobitora, on the first day on Saturday, about a 5.2 hectares area of Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary in Assam's Morigaon district was cleared of Parthenium or Congress grass, an invasive weed, by the forest to the authorities of Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, about 40 forest staff members of Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary were led by Range Officer Pranjal Baruah within six hours of Invasive Alien Species (IASE) Eradication Drive.'Special precautions have been taken for the forest staff to get rid of the parthenium allergy during the drive. On August 10, the team will carry out a special drive to eradicate Parthenium from the Tamuliduva area with Members of EDCs and Pobitora Jeep Safari Association," Pranjal Baruah, Range Officer of Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, further said that special emphasis has been given by the Wildlife Sanctuary authority for improving the habitat of Rhinos and other animals of the Sanctuary by way of weed eradication, soil moisture conservation, etc, so that the carrying capacity of the ecosystem can be Wildlife Sanctuary is known for holding the highest density of great one-horned rhinoceroses in the to the data of the last rhino population census conducted in 2022, Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary is home to 107 Indian one-horned rhinoceroses, and the wildlife sanctuary covers an area of 38.81 sq km. (ANI)
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Over 12,000 fail SSLC exams even in their third attempt in Belagavi and Chikodi
Belagavi: Despite three chances allowed by the govt for candidates to clear the Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) exams, as many as 12,385 students from institutions in the educational districts of Belagavi and Chikodi failed to make the cut this year. Official records show that 7,007 candidates from Chikodi and 5,378 from Belagavi failed in the exams. The numbers have raised concern over declining academic standards in these districts. This is all the more surprising given that just a few years ago, Belagavi and Chikodi were in the top ten on the state's SSLC results table. Given such a dismal scenario in these two districts, there is a growing concern that those who have failed may eventually be sucked into the vortex of child labour, depriving them of a further shot at education and a healthy, meaningful life. In recent SSLC exams, Belagavi was placed at the 25th spot, while Chikodi educational district was ranked 26th. The overall pass percentage in the two districts was around 62% as both continued to be in a downward spiral. Officials at the Belagavi School Education and Literacy Department said the block education officers will try to convince the parents of those who have failed to re-enrol their wards in class 10 and let them prepare for the next examination. Likewise, all high school teachers have been instructed to encourage this. Experts believe the education department needs to give more serious consideration to such dismal performance by these students and plug the holes in terms of academic shortcomings as much as possible to make sure no student falls through the crack. Seetaram, the deputy director of the school education and literacy department, Chikodi, said those who failed in all their subjects can still return to their classrooms. Even students who failed in some of the subjects can meet with their respective teachers, discuss their problems, and have their doubts cleared. Photo name: Exams Caption: Students at an SSLC exam centre Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Raksha Bandhan wishes , messages and quotes !
The Hindu
a day ago
- The Hindu
51 anganwadis in Ernakulam yet to receive fitness certificates
Fifty-one anganwadis in Ernakulam district are yet to receive fitness certificates though it is usually done between April-June coinciding with the start of the new academic year. The Ernakulam district has 2,858 anganwadis, which are supposed to get their fitness certified by assistant engineers of the local bodies concerned. In the case of 51 anganwadis, the delay in the issue of fitness certificates has been attributed to the non-availability of assistant engineers due to transfer and postings rather than safety issues. Among these, 32 anganwadis are in the Palluruthy region alone. 'They are likely to be inspected and issued fitness certificates in the next fortnight,' said Women and Child Development department sources. Cobra found in anganwadi The recent incident in which a cobra was found inside the almirah of an anganwadi in Karumaloor panchayat has raised serious safety and infrastructural concerns about anganwadis. In this case, the anganwadi remains surrounded by ripe paddy fields and a window pane was missing through which the snake is suspected to have sneaked in. 'We have replaced the window pane since then and have taken steps to clean the area in front of the anganwadi since the other three sides are paddy fields. We have also covered the air holes with nets,' said Sabitha Naser, president, Karumaloor panchayat. Infrastructural and safety issues Unsafe surroundings of anganwadi buildings, like abandoned plots with dense thicket overgrowth or a precarious tree in the neighbourhood, do pose a safety hazard, admit department sources. Around 600 anganwadis in the district do not have own buildings and operate either out of rented buildings or local body buildings for free. 'The problem is that a uniform rent is fixed for both urban and rural areas for anganwadi buildings. This makes it near impossible to find rented buildings in urban local bodies like Kochi Corporation. Low rented buildings come embedded with infrastructural and safety issues. Since land is at a premium in Kochi, anganwadis are built on one cents and two cents and in rare cases even over drains. The State government should allot dedicated space for setting up anganwadis with necessary infrastructure,' said M.G. Aristotle, Congress councillor in Kochi Corporation. A child development project officer said that since last year anganwadis are subjected to safety audit every three months and that they are no longer allowed to function out of unfit buildings. Payment The lowly monthly payment for anganwadi workers and helpers, ₹13,000 and ₹9,000 respectively, and the archaic rule for appointment also add to the problems. While SSLC pass is the criteria for appointment as workers, those who have failed SSLC are supposed to be appointed as helpers with the exception being given in scheduled caste and scheduled tribe areas. 'It is difficult in our State to find those who have failed SSLC these days. In such cases, we have to share helpers with anganwadis in the neighbouring wards provided the ward members concerned accede,' said a woman and child development department official.
