New Delhi, Dec 12 (PTI) Rajya Sabha nominated MP Sudha Murty on Friday urged the government to take steps to guarantee free and compulsory care and education for children in the age group of 3 to 6.
The private member resolution moved by Murty said the government may consider amending the Constitution to introduce a new article Article 21B in this regard.
Moving the resolution, she said: “Children are our future. They are the rising Sun. Their early education should benefit their life. Hence I request through you sir to our government to consider amending our Constitution to give fundamental right to education from 6 to 14 years to 3 to 14 years.” Article 21A of the Constitution guarantees free and compulsory education to children between 6 and 14 years of age, and the Constitution (86th Amendment) Act, 2002 introduced a Directive Principle encouraging the state to provide early childhood care and education to children below six years of age.
The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 also recommends universal, high-quality Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) by 2030 and underscores the importance of strong investment in ECCE for improved long-term learning and well-being, the resolution stated.
Murty said NEP 2020 notes that it is important that children receive good education between three to eight years.
“During that period, children’s cognitive, social, and emotional skills will develop very well. NEP 2020 also says that it is up to age six 85 per cent of your brain will develop,” she said.
She said the government needs to “work towards universal access to quality ECCE through strengthening Anganwadi services, or through any other mechanism the government may deem appropriate, to ensure that all children receive equitable and holistic early childhood support.” The resolution also urged the government to take suitable measures to enhance delivery, training and support systems related to early childhood services, recognising their role in securing strong foundations for lifelong learning and development.
BJP member Medha Vishram Kulkarni said that to run the Anganwadi school in urban areas, grants for renting Anganwadi school is Rs 3,000 in Pune which is too less for affording a good classroom.
DMK member P Wilson said the Right to Education Act was brought in 2009 to ensure that all children in India get the education and that was the reason for introducing 21A in the Constitution.
“Compulsory education cannot be confined to elementary levels alone. It must be progressively extended to cover all students up to class 12 ensuring continuity, equity and universal access to quality schooling,” Wilson said.
AAP member Swati Maliwal said according to NFHS, about 49 per cent of children enrolled in Anganwadi were not attending the pre-school services which has led to opening of private play schools, in every nook and corner of the country.
“Their market has crossed Rs 25,000 crore. Fees range from Rs 30,000 to Rs 2 lakh. The middle class is somehow managing to teach their children in private schools but the poor in the country cannot afford private play school. They are dependent on Anganwadi. Therefore reform in Anganwadi is not optional but an imperative thing for the nation,” she said.
Participating in the discussion on the Private Members’ Business (Resolutions) in the Rajya Sabha, Sasmit Patra of BJD extended support to the resolution, urging for strengthening of the Aanganwadi system and all mechanisms of early care to honour the children of India, describing them as the “silent citizens of our democracy”.
John Brittas of CPI (M) observed that Kerala invested heavily in education and healthcare, emphasising that if the Union government has respect for hapless Aanganwadi workers who toil it should declare an additional incentive or increase their wages.
He also claimed that a large number of government schools had shut down during the last ten years, adding that 73 per cent of these schools were in BJP-ruled states. Javed Ali Khan of Samajwadi Party said the condition of Aanganwadi workers in Uttar Pradesh is pitiable and they are paid minimal wages. He said early childhood or primary education was being commercialised at a large scale.
Jebi Mather Hisham of the Congress claimed that today, the early childhood care education framework is being used not for nurturing curiosity and compassion but for cultivating conformity to a single political ideology.
She observed that the ground reality today is deeply disturbing, alleging that instead of strengthening scientific pedagogies, politicised narratives are being inserted into picture books and fundamental curricula.
Hisham further claimed that there were “lingering attempts to rewrite cultural memory through saffronised storytelling” in early childhood spaces.
Fauzia Khan of NCP-SCP said for the first time, there is an emphasis on early childhood development in the new National Education Policy.
However, she stressed upon the need for uniformity in curriculum and standards of education. “We need to have a pre-primary education Board so that we have uniformity in all aspects,” Khan said.
Mayankkumar Nayak of the BJP said Aanganwadis should be modernized further and highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s focus on women and child development.
This discussion on the resolution will continue. PTI PRS RSN ANU
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