Karnataka considers free electricity for anganwadi centres

The Karnataka government is considering providing free electricity to anganwadi centres across the state. This proposal comes after the government previously offered free electricity to schools and colleges. Laxmi Hebbalkar, the Minister of Women and Child Development, stated that over 12,000 anganwadi centres have outstanding electricity bills. The Uttara Kannada district has the most centres with pending dues, totaling 2,234. Other districts with significant amounts include Chitradurga, Bagalkote, Kolar, and Haveri. Hebbalkar mentioned that the government is aware of the overdue bills and has released funds for administrative expenses until March 2025. The proposal for free electricity is currently under review. S. Varalakshmi, the state president of CITU Karnataka, expressed support for the proposal, highlighting the importance of electricity for cooking and digital tasks in anganwadi centres. Energy Department officials acknowledged the suggestion, citing the need to find a solution for how to handle the current arrears before making a final decision. There are nearly 70,000 anganwadi centres in Karnataka. Most are main centres, with some operating from rented buildings and community locations. The government plans to renovate more than 6,000 centres and open 383 new ones in the upcoming fiscal year.