Hunsur: If there are any gallantry awards for teachers and children in nursery section, undoubtedly the recipients will be from Jabagere anganwadi centres in Hunsur taluk, where around 45 children and their teachers live by the day!

The condition of make-shift anganwadi centers is good enough to send shivers down one’s spine as the structure in which the children are housed is on the verge of collapse. One has to admire the courage of the teachers to educate tiny tots under such precarious roof.

There are two anganawadi centres in the village which house around 45 children. One with 20 children is operating from Jabeshwara community hall whereas the other with 25 children, always prone to uncertainties. The community hall owners are now forcing the teacher to evacuate and with no alternative arrangement in place, future looks uncertain for many little children.

The second centre which initially operated from a rented house, later merged with the other anganawadi. The local gram panchyath found a new accommodation in a rented house the following academic year and then withdrew from taking further action.

Aggrieved villagers requested the Child Development Project Officer (CDPO) NaveenKumar to find a lasting solution to the lingering problem. The CDPO assured of meeting the Tahsildar and getting a separate plot sanctioned for a Permanent building. On paper the assurances bring in hope but villagers feel it is very long process which may or may not materialize.

Many people feel that the state which relies on statistics to showcase overall progress (in terms of numbers) must ensure qualitative development of the existing infrastructure.