Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru

Bengaluru, July 29: In a significant relief to Anganwadi workers, the Karnataka state government has announced that they will be exempted from election duties. This long-standing demand by Anganwadi workers and various associated organisations has finally been addressed, according to Minister for Women and Child Development, Lakshmi Hebbalkar.

Addressing the media, Minister Hebbalkar stated that the decision was made following discussions with the chief secretary to the government, Dr Shalini Rajneesh. The move comes in light of the state government's plan to start pre-primary (Government Montessori) classes in Anganwadi centres from October.

The minister added that a formal government order outlining the exemption will be issued shortly. Once implemented, Anganwadi workers will no longer be assigned election-related responsibilities.

With pre-primary classes set to begin soon, the government intends to ease the burden on Anganwadi workers by reducing their non-core responsibilities through this decision, Hebbalkar said.