The Karnataka State Anganwadi Employees Association has urged the government to retain the Integrated Child Development Scheme in its present form.
Addressing presspersons here recently, Sushila Nada, vice-president of the district unit of the association, said the government was planning to privatise the scheme and hand it over to non-government organisations, corporate houses and self-help groups. This was unacceptable as the anganwadi workers had a good track record in implementing the scheme, she said. Instead of privatising it, the government should create a separate department for the scheme.
Among their demands were a minimum salary of Rs. 15,000 for anganwadi workers who had put in 39 years of service, upgrading of all anganwadi centres to permanent child care centres or play-schools, among others.
