priyanka-opens-smart-anganwadi-in-ambalavayal-panchayat

Congress leader and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra opened the new Smart Anganwadi in the Ambalavayal 'gram panchayat' in Kerala on Tuesday.

The Congress MP interacted with local residents, shaking their hands and asking about the Anganwadi as she greeted them. Locals were seen dancing in celebration after the centre's inauguration. The initiative to construct the Anganwadi was undertaken through the Aspirational District Fund (ADF), a NITI Aayog initiative designed to transform some of the country's most underdeveloped districts. According to NITI Aayog, the states are the primary drivers of the programme, which focuses on each district's strengths, identifying areas for immediate improvement and measuring progress through monthly rankings.

During her visit to her constituency, the MP has opened a number of community projects in the region. On Monday, she inaugurated a drinking water project in the Mylukunnu and Panamaram villages, which was funded by the MPLADS (Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme). Under this scheme, each MP is allocated ₹5 crore annually to recommend development work in their constituency.

Earlier in her visit, she also went to the Priyadarshini Tea factory in Mananthavady and interacted with the workers.

Priyanka Gandhi arrived in Wayanad on Friday for a ten-day visit. On Sunday, she met with Bishop Remigiose Inchananiyil at the Bishop House in Thamarassery. Following the meeting, the Bishop told reporters that while the visit was "totally personal" and no "political issues or requirements of the community were discussed," he had raised a number of his own concerns with her. The main issues he addressed were the representation of their community in Parliament and the ongoing human-animal conflict in the region.

"We are attacked by elephants or tigers. We are living 10 km away from the forest. A tiger recently killed a man. I asked her to represent the poor people in Parliament," he said.

On Friday, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also visited the Hume Centre for Ecology and Wildlife Biology in Kalpetta, Wayanad. Speaking to reporters, she said, "I am here for 10 days and just want to understand the issues here more deeply. I am also understanding how I can support and help to resolve the issues. This is the mission for these 10 days."

 

Also read: Priyanka’s Wayanad visit clouded by suicides