Although classes at ICDS centres are held in the morning, children suffer during summer due to the intense heat. This time, however, they are set to get some relief. An initiative has been taken to provide electricity connections to 1,458 ICDS centres in Jhargram district.
Along with electricity connections, each ICDS centre will be equipped with one fan, one tubelight and several switchboards. The Panchayat and Rural Development Department has allocated Rs 1 crore 8 lakh for electricity connections, wiring and purchasing various items, including fans and tubelights.
There are 2,477 ICDS centres in Jhargram district. Of these, only 17 centres currently have electricity connections.
First phase to cover 1,458 centres
District Project Officer (ICDS) Tapas Kumar Mondal said that after providing electricity connections to 1,458 ICDS centres in the first phase, the remaining centres will be covered in the coming days.
"Due to a lack of electricity connections in ICDS centres, children and assistants have to sit in the heat during summer. To solve that problem, electricity connections are being provided to most ICDS centres in the district. In the coming days, the remaining ICDS centres will be brought under electricity connections," he said.
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Block-wise allocation and funding details
According to district ICDS department sources, electricity connections are being provided to:
170 ICDS centres in Binpur-1 block
182 in Binpur-2 block
108 in Gopiballabhpur-1 block
143 in Gopiballabhpur-2 block
200 in the Jamboni block
194 in Jhargram block
296 in Nayagram block
165 in the Sankrail block
It is learned that Rs 2,575 has been allocated for electricity connection in each ICDS centre and Rs 2,500 for purchasing electrical equipment. The electricity connection work will be carried out through tenders under the panchayat supervision.
Regional Manager of Jhargram Division of Electricity Distribution Company, Pradip Samanta, said, "Applications have been submitted by the ICDS department for electricity connections in ICDS centres."
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Heat affecting attendance
Chandana Midya Chowdhury, a teacher at Nonibala ICDS centre in Jhargram town, said, "Due to heat, children don't want to sit for long. Parents also don't want to send their children to the centre. It would be very good if there were electricity connections and fan arrangements in the centre."
The District Project Officer (ICDS) added that through "Amader Para, Amader Samadhan", 648 ICDS centres in the district will undergo building renovation, toilet construction and development of kitchen gardens.
Survey for centres without buildings
Many ICDS centres in the district do not have their own buildings and operate from courtyards or village clubhouses.
When asked about the future of those centres, District Magistrate Akanksha Bhaskar said, "A survey is being conducted of ICDS centres that do not have their own buildings. With the cooperation of various departments, including Backward Classes Welfare Department and Tribal Development Department, and with the assistance of the Fifteenth Finance Commission, buildings for those ICDS centres will be constructed in the coming days."
