BENGALURU: Minister for Women and Child Development Lakshmi Hebbalkar announced that LKG and UKG classes would be started in 5,000 anganwadi centres across Karnataka.
She said this while replying to a question posed by children at the 25th Karnataka State Child Rights Parliament at Vidhana Soudha on Thursday.
“In the last two and half years after I became minister, Rs 200 crore has been earmarked for anganwadis. A revolutionary step of starting LKG and UKG will be initiated in 5000 anganwadis across the state from November 28, 2025,” she said.
However, it is difficult to include LKG and UKG classes in anganwadis due to lack of space and proper classrooms.
As per data from the government, there are 70,000 anganwadis across the state, of which 50,000 anganwadis are functioning in their own buildings and 20,000 are functioning in government offices adjacent to their buildings, like Bangalore One office, panchayat offices, community halls and rented spaces. She said that ‘Akka Pade’ and Women’s Force, including Home Guards, NCC cadets and women police, will be launched in all districts.
Hebbalkar said, “This is done to ensure the safety of women and children, and to address the issue of child marriage and teen pregnancies. People involved in arranging marriages of children below the age of 18 will be punished as per law. A reward of Rs 25,000 will be given to village panchayats for making villages free of child marriage. The Akka Pade will be at the forefront in dealing with this issue.”
She said Akka Pade will be set up in the limits of each Superintendent of Police as well as the Commissionerate.
The team will also patrol community halls, malls, schools, colleges and temples.
The parliament was organised by Karnataka Child Rights Observatory in association with UNICEF.
Karnataka State Child Protection Commission Chairman Shasidhara S Kosumbe, trustee of Civic and Child Rights Trust Kathyayini Chamaraj, child rights activist Vasudeva Sharma and others were present.
The story is reported by Rashmi Patil for The New Indian Express
