Children in Boaldah village, located in the Bongaon block of North 24 Parganas district, West Bengal, are being deprived of basic education and nutrition, raising concerns over potential violations of their constitutional rights. In a formal complaint submitted to the Principal Secretary of the Women and Child Development and Social Welfare Department, a pressing issue regarding the welfare of these children has been brought to light.
Boaldah, a small village situated just one kilometer from the Indo-Bangladesh border, is home to landless fishermen, primarily from the Bagdi community, a Scheduled Caste semi-tribal group. These Dalit families have traditionally depended on fishing for their livelihood. However, frequent conflicts with the Border Security Force (BSF) have disrupted their primary source of income, forcing many to migrate in search of better opportunities. As a result, the education of the children in this village now heavily depends on the government’s Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) and local schools, as most families live below the poverty line.
The ICDS program is crucial for the survival and development of the village’s children. Many children attend the center primarily to receive a free meal, but the conditions at the Boaldah ICDS center are far from ideal. Established in 2003, the center consists of a single room that has been in a dangerous state for years. The roof is unstable, and the building lacks proper windows and doors. It wasn’t until 2022, after complaints made through the MASUM office, that the local Bongaon Block administration addressed some of these safety issues. Yet, even after repairs, the center still lacks a proper kitchen space.
Food, a central component of the ICDS program, continues to be prepared outside, leaving it vulnerable to contamination. Pests and environmental conditions pose health risks to the children who depend on these meals. During the monsoon season, the situation becomes worse as rain and storms interfere with the preparation of food. Despite years of complaints to the Ghat Bour Gram Panchayat, no improvements have been made.
On August 29, 2024, formal complaints were also submitted to the Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) and the Block Development Officer (BDO) of Bongaon. So far, no action has been taken to resolve the issue. The community remains in a state of uncertainty, with children at risk of malnutrition and denied proper pre-school education.
An urgent investigation has been requested, along with immediate steps to improve the conditions at the Boaldah ICDS center. The goal is to ensure a safe and healthy environment for the village’s children, safeguarding their fundamental rights to education and protection from hunger, in line with Article 21-A of the Indian Constitution and Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
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