NHRC seeks report on ‘poor infra’ in Saksham Anganwadi centres

Cuttack: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sought a detailed action taken report from the Nabarangpur administration over alleged delays and poor infrastructure in ‘Saksham Anganwadi’ centres across the district.Taking cognisance of a complaint filed by Jeypore-based human rights activist advocate Anup Kumar Patro, the NHRC on Tuesday (May 12) observed, “If the allegations are true, then these are very serious human rights violations.” Accordingly, the commission directed the collector and district magistrate of Nabarangpur to submit a report within two weeks.In the complaint, Patro alleged that although 636 modern Anganwadi centres were sanctioned across 10 blocks in Nabarangpur district in 2023 under the Centre’s ‘Saksham Anganwadi’ initiative, work in nearly 460 centres remains incomplete even after three years. In Chandahandi block, only 10 out of 50 sanctioned centres are reportedly functional. Dabugam block has only 10 operational centres against the 59 sanctioned, while Kosagumuda block has 17 functioning centres out of the 78 approved units.The complaint also flagged the condition of the Dussehra ground Anganwadi centre, which is allegedly operating from a dilapidated hut without boundary walls and functional toilets.