Disconnect in Progress: Madhya Pradesh Anganwadis Receive LED TVs Despite Lack of Electricity

A senior official has confirmed that electricity connections will be provided soon to affected centers.

In Madhya Pradesh, a well-intentioned development initiative has encountered an ironic obstacle. Officials in Umaria district have distributed new LED televisions and water filtration systems to 116 Anganwadi centers as part of the 'Saksham Anganwadi' modernization program. However, these centers currently operate without electricity connections.

The situation is particularly striking considering that out of 786 Anganwadis throughout Umaria, only 322 have access to electricity. Despite this limitation, 116 centers without power were deemed "eligible" for receiving LED TVs and Reverse Osmosis (RO) machines, which were delivered with considerable official ceremony.

Anganwadi worker Vandana Singh from Chhoti Salaiya commented with humor, "We received the LED, but have no electricity. For now, it's simply wall decoration."

Pushpa Singh, who works at the Patrei center, expressed optimism: "We plan to use the television to educate mothers about nutrition once we have power."

Compounding these challenges, some centers lack water connections, rendering the RO filtration systems non-functional. Workers must transport water from distant locations, yet administrative officials maintain that the filters will become operational soon.

When contacted by NDTV, Women and Child Development Officer Divya Gupta explained that the 116 centers were specifically selected as 'Saksham Anganwadi Centres' to receive televisions and RO systems. For those establishments without electrical connections, she stated that discussions with the Madhya Pradesh electricity board are currently in progress, and power will be supplied in the near future.

A 'Saksham Anganwadi' represents a modernized version of India's rural childcare facilities under the Mission Saksham Anganwadi & Poshan 2.0 initiative. These centers aim to deliver comprehensive nutrition, early childhood care, and educational services for children under six years old, adolescent girls, and expectant or nursing mothers. The program focuses on enhancing infrastructure, improving nutritional standards, and implementing modern service delivery methods to address malnutrition while promoting health, wellness, and immunity.