Government mulls free power supply for anganwadi centres  

Minister of Women and Child Development, Laxmi Hebbalkar says 12,804 anganwadi centres have electricity bill dues towards various Escoms.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

After providing free electricity to government schools and colleges, the Karnataka government is now mulling over providing free electricity to all anganwadi centres across the State.

Speaking in the Legislative Assembly, Minister of Women and Child Development, Laxmi Hebbalkar said 12,804 anganwadi centres have electricity bill dues towards various electricity supply companies (Escoms).

Uttara Kannada district has the highest number of centres (2,234 out of 2,782) having pending dues, followed by 1,515 in Chitradurga, 1,244 in Bagalkote, 1,112 in Kolar and 1,060 in Haveri district.

“It has come to the notice of the government that anganwadi centres have pending dues towards Escoms and grants have been released to the centres for administrative expenses till March 2025. The government is also examining the proposal about providing free electricity to anganwadi centres,” Ms. Hebbalkar said.

In November 2023, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced free water and electricity for all government schools after the Karnataka State Primary School Teachers Association submitted a proposal regarding the same when they were hit by a shortage of maintenance funds.

“That the department has submitted this proposal is a welcome move. We have been asking for this for a long time. In an anganwadi centre, electricity is required for many things including cooking. Now with summer approaching, fans are a necessity. All the work is now digital, so phones and devices need to be charged,” said S. Varalakshmi, state president, CITU Karnataka, who represents anganwadi workers.

The officials of the Energy Department said the suggestion has come to the Department about the provision of free electricity to anganwadi centres. “The intention to provide free electricity is good. But we have to see how the arrears and bills will be paid. We will also have to listen to comments from experts and then decide,” said a senior official.

There are 69,919 anganwadi centres in Karnataka out of which 67,590 are main centres and 2,329 are mini centres. Out of these, 47,293 centres operate from their own buildings while 12,992 operate out of rented buildings. The remaining are operating from panchayat buildings, community halls, school campuses etc. “In the year 2024-25, the government had ordered the renovation of 6,066 centres and the establishment of 383 new centres,” Ms. Hebbalkar said.