VARANASI: On a sizzling Friday when the rising mercury compelled people to remain indoors, a group of children belonging to the deprived Mushahar community assembled under a neem tree at Parmandapur Musahar basti situated on Varanasi-Bhadohi Road in Araziline block of the district to take their daily lessons. For them, it's normal situation.The children belong to a mini anganwadi centre running without a roof or shed for last nine years under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme launched in the country in 1975 for early childhood development. As the heat wave sweeps the region and temperatures run above 40 degrees Celsius, such scenes are common at many anganwadi centres in Prime Minister Narendra Modi ' parliamentary constituency.Though the authorities claimed that there is a provision to run such centres in government buildings or rented rooms, Aanganwadi workers at these centres claimed no such arrangement has been made despite repeated request.There are 3,914 anganwadi centres in the district. In a survey conducted in March this year by an NGO, Peoples Vigilance Committee for Human Rights (PVCHR), at 28 anganwadi centres in 13 villages of four blocks and three centres in urban area, it was found that anganwadi centres in six villages were running in the open, while four are running in rented rooms.In a reality check, the TOI team found the children, sitting under trees at Musahar ghettos in Parmandapur and Sajoi villages to take 'pushtahar' (nutritious food) provided under the scheme."I have to keep the food grain supplied under ICDS scheme in my own house, while the learning material and 'taat' (sac pieces used as sitting mattress) are kept in a neighbouring hut. This centre has been running since 2008 and cater to 38 children of three to seven years of age group. Besides, 26 children of seven-month to three year age group and eight pregnant women are also on the roll ," said anganwadi worker Geeta Devi at Parmandapur.Similar is the condition at Sajoi village. "Our repeated request to authorities have failed to solicit any response," said Pushpa Devi of Sajoi anganwadi centre, where 65 children of three to seven years, 65 of seven month to three year and nine pregnant women are enrolled. Whenever we demand an accommodation, the officials advise us to take a room on rent," said a worker, Geeta wondering how the rent would be paid. "The children are sent back to home in very adverse weather conditions," she added.DM Yogeshwar Ram Mishra admitted that some centres have no accommodation. "We will identify such centres and arrangements would be made by the end of this year," the DM told TOI. "There is a provision of take room on rent at the rate of Rs. 750 per month in rural areas and Rs. 3,000 in urban areas," said IVDS district programme officer Manoj Gautam but didn't elaborate on other issues."We have surveyed 28 centre in 13 villages including Ayar, Puari Kala, Puari Khurd, Pindra, Dallipur and Parmandapur. Besides, three centres were surveyed in Bajardiha urban localities," said Shruti Nagvanshi of PVCHR.

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