Abstract

Article 45 of the Constitution of India highlights the importance of early childhood care and education (ECCE), directing the State to “endeavor to provide early childhood care and education for all children until they complete the age of six years.” This report, submitted by CBPS to the Additional Chief Secretary to the Government of Karnataka and the Development Commissioner, aligns with this directive as a form of pre-budget advocacy for increased allocations in ECCE. The report examines the significance and current state of ECCE in India, with a specific focus on Karnataka. It also delves into the anganwadi system as part of the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS).

In analyzing the status of anganwadi centers and the ICDS scheme in Karnataka, the report elaborates on certain efficiency gaps and the responsiveness of these schemes concerning coverage, performance, and addressing needs. This analysis includes ECCE-related schemes and other health indicators related to reproductive child health (RCH) and maternal child health (MCH), advocating for enhanced budget allocations for ECCE and anganwadi centers. The report identifies issues within the anganwadi centers and the ICDS, advocating for improvements through interventions at resource, implementation, and policy levels. It calls for greater resource allocation at the anganwadi level, and provides suggestions for policy related interventions to improve their functioning.

CBPS. (n.d). Pre-budget advocacy for enhanced allocation: early childhood care and education. Bengaluru: Centre for Budget and Policy Studies.