In Rathinapuri, an area with a population of around 45,000 in Tamil Nadu’s Coimbatore district, a cluster of six Integrated Child Development Services Centres (ICDS or Anganwadi complex) cater to the preschoolers.

 

Until February this year, the complex consisted of four dilapidated structures, further plagued by unhygienic conditions and waterlogging during the monsoons. And these deterred parents from sending their children to the complex.

 

Apprised of the dire situation, L&T MBDA Missile Systems (LTMMSL) undertook a major redevelopment of the complex last September, giving it a new lease of life.The exercise involved complete reconstruction of the complex as per a new design which is attractive as well as user- friendly.

 

Since the new design was different from the one “approved” by the state government for such structures, the challenge for LTMMSL was to dish out something that can act as a model for such construction undertaken in the future.

 

Similarly, LTMMSL has redeveloped a health sub-centre at Chinniyampalayam in the district that was in a dilapidated condition and was woefully inadequate to serve the near 16,000 population under its jurisdiction.

 

LTMMSL’s Chief Executive Mr Ravi Kataria formally handed over the redeveloped ICDS complex and the health sub-centre to the Coimbatore district administration on 29 February.

 

Coimbatore District Collector Mr Kranti Kumar Pati, Deputy Director of Health Services Dr P Aruna, Coimbatore Mayor Ms M Kalpana, Deputy Mayor Mr Vetrichelvan, Corporation Commissioner Mr Sivaguru Prabhakaran and Central Zone Ward Committee Chairperson Ms Meenalogu L graced the occasion.