Karnataka presents a ‘child budget’ and bag-free Saturdays

NEW DELHI : For the first time in the history of the state, B.S. Yediyurappa, the chief minister of Karnataka, presented what he called a “child budget’ on Thursday.

The budget for the year 2020-21, “consolidates all the policies and programs” for children below the age group of 18 years, he said in his speech.

A total of Rs 36,340 crore has been allocated for the child budget and a major part of it has been set aside for the Department of Primary and Secondary education and the Department of Women and Child Development. The domain of early childhood care and education – ECCE – is covered by the Integrated Child Development Scheme or ICDS, and the WCD of a state is in charge of it.

The total allocation for the child budget is 15.28 percent of the total outlay of the state budget.

Schools, youth

Under the ‘Upakara’ scheme, financial assistance of Rs 5,000 per month was announced for youth discharged after the age of 21 years from the state-run juvenile homes, known as Bala Mandira. The budget proposed to give skills training to these young women and men.

A grant of Rs 100 crore has also been earmarked for the improvement of infrastructure of 276 Karnataka public schools providing education under one roof.

The CM also proposed the modernization of Mahila Supplementary Nutrition Production and Training Centre.

“To enhance the production capacity by modernising these centres, it is proposed to provide interest-free loan from Rs 15 lakh to Rs 20 lakh under the Marginal Loan Scheme of the Karnataka State Women Development Corporation,” Yediyurappa told The Hindu.

‘No-Bag Saturdays’

Two Saturdays a month, school students in Karnataka will attend classes free from a load of school bags.

“By making two Saturdays a month as bag-free days, 'Sambhrama Shanivara' will be observed with the objective of creating a joyful learning experience by reducing the burden of textbooks,” stated the Karnataka CM.

There will be an effort to create awareness, through a range of activities, on topics that are necessary for students to be ideal citizens.

According to The Times of India , the scheme was first launched in private and state-run schools last year in Dakshina Kannada district. Students from Class 1 to 10 attended classes without school bags twice in a month.

Several media reports state that Manipur and Odisha also have the ‘no-bag policy’ for students studying in government schools. Andhra Pradesh is also set to implement a similar policy.

Also read:
Budget Analysis: Education outlay up 4.69%, smallest hike in 5 years
Budget 2020: Centre allocates Rs 99,300 crore for education

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