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'Vedanta's entry a death knell for anganwadi centres'

CITU against getting private companies into ICDS
Last Updated 17 November 2012, 17:19 IST

With the entry of the Vedanta Foundation, a mining major, in the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS), the Karnataka government will lose its hold over the maintenance of anganwadi centres, said Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU).

Dubbing the State government’s move as irresponsible, the CITU alleged that the move to privatise the women and child development sector was unwarranted.

More so when the department is adequately staffed and has the funds, members of the CITU added.

Vedanta project

As per the Memorandum of Understanding entered into between the State government and the Vedanta Foundation, the Vedanta Balashakti Yojane will be implemented in anganwadi centres in four taluks in Chikkaballapur district.

This entails that the Vedanta Foundation is responsible for the maintenance and growth of anganwadi centres.

Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas M Veerappa Moily will launch the Vedanta Balashakti Yojane at Nandi auditorium in Chikkaballapur on November 18.

Lakshmidevamma, CITU Anganwadi Workers’ and Assistants’ Association district unit secretary, wondered why Veerappa Moily, who is proud of government schemes, was showing interest in a private player.

She noted that the entry of the private player would affect change in the running of anganwadi centres. In the days to come, the anganwadi centres would lose its identity and its workers would be unemployed.

She questioned the role of the Vedanta Foundation, a private player, when both the Union and State governments are capable of efficiently handing them.

Vedanta’s gamut

In total 2,635 anganwadi centres in four districts in Chikkaballpur Lok Sabha constituency will come under the purview of the Vedanta Foundation.

 The Foundation will be entrusted with the responsibility of overseeing the work in as many as 1,139 centres in Chikkaballapur district, 1,207 centres in Bangalore Rural, 222 centres in Bangalore Urban District and 67 anganwadi centres in Ramanagara district.
In addition to these, the Foundation will also handle as many as 1,139 anganwadi centres in Chikkaballapur, Gauribidanur, Bagepalli and Gudibande taluks in the district for five years.

Anganwadi centres in CB Pur

Taluk    No of centres    Children
Chikkaballapur    302    6,342
Gauribidanur    349    8,864
Bagepalli    363    7,559
Gudibande    125    2,000
Total    1,139    24,765

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(Published 17 November 2012, 17:19 IST)

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