BENGALURU: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the Integrated Child Development Services Scheme (ICDS) is a visionary project by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to eliminate maternal and infant mortality, and malnutrition. The programme benefits over 40 lakh women and children through 69,922 Anganwadi centres.
Addressing the audience on the golden jubilee celebrations of the ICDS programme, he added, “Though ICDS is a central government programme, the Centre provides only Rs 2,700, and the state government spends Rs 8,500 as honorarium to pay Asha workers. We are giving the highest honorarium to Asha workers in the country. In fact, Karnataka is the first state to celebrate the golden jubilee of the ICDS programme. The first anganwadi was established in T Narasipura by Indira Gandhi 50 years ago.”
Criticising the BJP government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said, “Those who opposed the guarantee schemes should wake up and see how it has helped women in the state. The BJP and PM had opposed it. We are implementing the guarantee schemes and also spending on development works. After implementation of the Shakti and Gruhalakshmi schemes, Karnataka ranks first in the country in per capita income. It ranks first among states that have effectively implemented the ICDS programme. After the Shakti scheme was implemented, the share of women going to work, which was 23 per cent, increased by 21 per cent in rural areas. Under the Gruhalakshmi scheme, Rs 2,000 has been provided to 1.26 crore women. So far, the government has spent over Rs 1,04,000 crore on the guarantee schemes.”
Meanwhile, Minister for Women and Child Development, Disabled and Senior Citizens Empowerment Laxmi R Hebbalkar announced the launch of Akka Pade across 31 districts for the protection of women in public places, LKG and UKG classes in 5,000 anganwadis and Gruhalakshmi Multipurpose Cooperative Society, which has been started for the self-reliance of women.
Hebbalkar requested the CM to increase the honorarium for Anganwadi workers by Rs 1,000. She said, “During the previous Congress government, we had increased the honorarium amount for anganwadi workers. Last year, our government again increased it by Rs 1,000. Now, I will appeal to CM Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar to increase it by Rs 1,000. It will be of great help to them as they take up all responsibilities and tasks.”
The department felicitated senior citizens and best Anganwadi workers, and gave bravery awards to two children.