Innovative: Bamboo technology anganwadi centers in deep forest

Environment and Child Friendly Anganwadi Centers are being setup inside the forest at Periyapatna and HD Kote. They are constructed by adopting green building concept using locally available materials such as mud and bamboo. These Anganwadi centers are being constructed exclusively for primitive tribal children who are living deep inside the forest.

While it is prohibited to construct concrete structures inside forest areas, in order to help tribal children the district administration has come out with this novel initiative. Another speciality of the buildings is, the tribals are roped in to construct the bamboo building, as they to have skills in constructing bamboo houses.

The Anganwadi center is well organised comprising of all basic amenities like a kitchen room, dining hall, rain water harvesting, smokeless chulla, amphitheater, toilet, play area, class room with all essential furniture. This helps to teach children about the importance of adopting green initiatives, conservation of rain water and sanitation. The initiative is said to be first of its kind in the country and to become a role model for other States.

As many as 11 Anganwadi centers will be constructed in both the taluks, each unit costing Rs 8.26 lakh. Out of three units, two units in Periyapatna have been constructed covering 800 square feet place at Halakere Hadi and Malagankere Hadi, which will be inaugurated next week. The other unit would come up at Varthi (Kogilawadi) will be commenced soon.

While the works of proposed eight anganwadi centers in HD Kote taluk at

Balle Hadi (two units), Manimole Hadi, Anne Mala, Maladahadi, Thimmana Hosahalli Hadi, Golour Hadi, Bhavali Hadi will start from April. All the projects are slated to complete in another four months.

Deputy Commissioner C Shikha said that since forest department has banned construction of concrete structures inside forest areas the children were not getting proper anganwadi facilities. The new model is an initiative to benefit Anganwadi children.

Nirmithi Kendra Director Manjunath said that in a bid to provide basic education and to make children have access to nutrition the Anganwadi centers are being constructed inside the forest, which is the first of its kind in the country. It takes around 30-40 days to complete the works of each center which will be built in an area of 800 sq feet. Technical assistance is being given by NIE CRIST.

Integrated Tribal Development Programme Project Co-ordinator Dr CR Bharathi said the durability of the centers will be more than 10 years, and on an average of 15 to 20 children will come under each center. In all, the new initiative will benefit immensely to attract tribal children towards Anganwadi centers.