Akka Pade launched to safeguard women, children in Karnataka

Bengaluru: A dedicated team of policewomen called ‘Akka Pade’ will be deployed in all the districts to protect and safeguard women and children. Launched by the Woman and Child Development Department, members of the Akka Pade will patrol sensitive and crowded places such as bus and railway stations, schools, colleges and malls, besides raising awareness about societal ills such as child marriage, child labour, substance abuse, et al.

Flagging off the initiative on Friday, Woman and Child Development Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar said, “Akka Pade was inspired by an initiative launched by the Bidar Superintendent of Police. We decided to implement the same across the state to safeguard women and children. Akka Pade will patrol sensitive places round-the-clock.”

Anganwadi centres will soon house state-run Montessoris, announced the minister. She also announced that that English-medium pre-primary education would be offered at 5,000 Anganwadi centres from the 2026-27 academic year.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D K Shivakumar too flagged off several initiatives to mark the golden jubilee of the Integrated Child Development Services Scheme. The Gruha Lakshmi Co-Operative Society was also launched on the occasion.

Siddaramaiah, meanwhile, assured the Woman and Child Development Department of allocating sufficient funds so pre-primary education could be offered at more Anganwadi centres.

“Women must develop scientific and rational thinking,” said the CM.