Udupi: As Anganwadi centres complete 50 years of service, preparations are underway to celebrate their golden jubilee on October 2, announced Women and Child Development Minister and Udupi District In-charge Minister Lakshmi Hebbalkar.
She was speaking after inaugurating the newly constructed Anganwadi building at Durganagar, Ellur, built under the initiative of Udupi District Administration, Zilla Panchayat, Women and Child Development Department, and Kaup Taluk Panchayat.
The Minister said the government is taking steps to further strengthen early childhood education.
“To provide a stronger foundation in pre-primary education, LKG and UKG classes will be introduced in Anganwadis. Karnataka will also be the first state to start LKG/UKG at the pre-primary stage,” Hebbalkar stated.
Currently, there are 70,000 Anganwadi centres across Karnataka, which are being upgraded in a phased manner to meet modern needs.
The event was attended by Kaup MLA Gurme Suresh Shetty, Legislative Council member Kishore Kumar, former minister Vinay Kumar Sorake, Guarantee Scheme Implementation Committee Chairman Ashok Kumar Kodavoor, District Collector Swaroop T.K, Zilla Panchayat CEO Prateek Bayal, Deputy Divisional Officer S.R. Rashmi, Tahsildar Pratibha, Deputy Director of Women and Child Development Department Shyamala, and other dignitaries.
The upcoming golden jubilee celebrations are expected to highlight the transformative role of Anganwadis in child care, nutrition, and education in Karnataka.