Mangaluru: The Karnataka State Anganwadi Workers’ Association President S Varalakshmi has urged the government to roll back the decision of starting pre-primary classes in government schools claiming that such decision would lead to the closure of Anganwadi centres in state.
Addressing the reporters here on Saturday, May 25, Varalakshmi said that the Department of Primary and Secondary Education had decided to start pre-primary classes in 276 government schools from the 2019-20 academic year. If the government goes ahead with its decision, then the children would miss out on nutrition, which is the objective of the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) programme. There is already an existing setup and the government can start pre-primary classes in Anganwadis, instead. Why should the government invest in another facility?”, she questioned
Varalakshmi also informed that if the new system is implemented, the concept of ICDS would collapse. “Over 1.2 lakh Anganwadi teachers and assistants will become jobless if the government starts pre-primary classes in government schools. We would agree if the government shifts our Anganwadi centres near to the government schools and allow us to function there. Instead of that, if the government starts pre-primary classes in government schools, no parents would send their children below the age group of six to Anganwadi centres. The members of the association will stage a demonstration in front of Vidhan Soudha on May 30 demanding a roll back on the decision”, she informed.
The Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) District General Secretary Sunil Kumar Bajal, District President J Balakrishna Shetty and other members Padmavathi Shetty and Shiva Kumar were present.
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