End of rent woes for 348 anganwadi centres in Ballari soon

Pic: KMERC grants approved for construction, repairs in mining-affected taluksBallari: Zilla panchayat has drawn up a plan to construct new buildings for anganwadi centres under the Karnataka Mining Environmental Restoration Corporation Limited (KMERC) grant, aiming to make the district's centres rent-free.Ballari district has 1,358 anganwadi centres across five taluks, including 417 in urban areas and 941 in rural parts. As many as 370 centres are functioning from rented buildings, posing challenges for women and child development department, including rent-related issues.With KMERC funds collected from mining now being utilised, officials said centres operating from rented premises would soon get their own buildings.A taluk-wise assessment shows Sandur has 148 centres, of which 51 function from rented premises. Kampli and Kurugodu taluks have 20 such centres each, Siruguppa has 23, while Ballari taluk has 91 centres identified for infrastructure support under KMERC.In the first phase, 198 anganwadi centres have been taken up for construction of new buildings, with priority given to centres operating from rented or inadequate structures. The KMERC-funded works include construction of new buildings, repairs and provision of essential amenities in mining-affected areas.Under the plan, KMERC grant has been provided to construct new buildings for a total of 348 centres, including rent and other expenses. In Sandur taluk, 148 centres are to be repaired and new buildings constructed for 51 centres, with tenders and work orders already in progress.In Kampli and Kurugodu taluks, Rs 20 crore has been approved to construct new buildings for 198 anganwadi centres, while Rs 23 crore has been approved in Siruguppa taluk. Approval has also been given to repair 91 centres in Ballari taluk.ZP CEO Muhammad Haris Sumer said approval had been granted under KMERC to provide own buildings to anganwadi centres operating from rented premises. He said land availability remained a problem in urban areas and would be addressed in phases, with the aim of making the district rent-free in terms of anganwadi centres.