'Smart TV, library, music system and more'; 123 smart Anganwadis completed in Kerala

KOZHIKODE: A total of 123 Anganwadis in the state have turned smart. Not just well-managed lawns, but they also have soft mats in the classrooms to prevent injuries if toddlers slip, which they often do.

Smart Anganwadis are equipped with all the amenities like a study room, lounge, dining room, kitchen, store room, indoor and outdoor play area, multipurpose hall, garden, smart TV, music system, a nutritional garden, a sleeping area, a reading corner, wall paintings, a parents' waiting room, and a library for adults.

There are a total of 33,120 Anganwadis in the state. Anganwadis functioning without rented buildings will be the first to turn smart. In the first phase, the government has approved 215 of them.

Kasaragod has the most number of smart Anganwadis. The least is in Idukki, which has just three Anganwadis. Only one of these has been turned smart. The construction of more smart Anganwadis was completed in Kollam. The construction was done with the funds of the Women and Child Development Department and local self-government institutions.

The project cost is 57.74 crores, including 38.34 crores from the Women and Child Development Department and 19.4 crores from the Local Self-Government Institutions/MLA Fund. Smart Anganwadis are being constructed in plots ranging from 10 to 1.25 cents.