Several centres, some over 30 years old, require urgent structural interventions. E. Shanthi, an anganwadi worker at the Okkiliyar Colony centre, said, “A wall in the kitchen has been damaged, rendering the space unusable for cooking. We have been requesting a new building for the past two years, and the Corporation has now assured us that the structure will be demolished and reconstructed with puff sheet roofing.”
Concerns have also been raised about pest infestations in older buildings. “Rats frequently enter through gaps in the cement sheet roofing, particularly in search of the nutrition supplement stored in the kitchen. We have requested that the Corporation construct reinforced concrete (RCC) structures to ensure durability and prevent such issues,” another worker said.
Corporation Commissioner M. Sivaguru Prabakaran said a comprehensive city-wide survey was conducted over two months to assess the condition of all 504 anganwadi centres under the Corporation’s jurisdiction. “We identified structurally weak buildings and engaged in discussions with anganwadi workers to understand their requirements. We are now seeking private sector contributions, either directly or through the Namakku Naame Thittam, to fund these renovations,” he said.
To encourage sponsorship, the Corporation has set a minimum funding requirement of ?14 lakh per centre. “Higher funding requests often deter sponsors. Therefore, to optimise costs, we will use puff sheet roofing instead of RCC structures. This year, we aim to redevelop over 50 centres, building on the 35 completed last year. The design framework is in place, and work will begin as soon as sponsorships are confirmed,” he added.