No fancy playschool, Kodagu SP sends her kid to anganwadi

MADIKERI: Ditching the tradition of fancy playschools, Kodagu SP Suman D Pennekar admitted her toddler in a humble, government-run anganwadi centre in Madikeri.
The 2013-batch IPS officer, who took charge of the district in May last year, says she couldn’t be happier about her decision. “Kushi is extremely happy to go to the anganwadi every day. She is relaxed and is enjoying her time there,” Suman told TOI.
Pennekar, a qualified Ayurvedic doctor, hails from Beedi village in Belagavi district.She always wanted her daughter to study in a government school.
“Private educational institutions are result-oriented and they put pressure on children. I wanted her to start her education in a relaxed atmosphere, which I found at the anganwadi,” the police officer said.
Kushi’s anganwadi teacher Neethu said the toddler was enrolled on Monday.
“Not just the SP’s daughter, but also children of five other police personnel, including that of a police inspector, study here. We are located close to the rural police station,” she said.
SP’s choice trends online
Women and child welfare deputy director K Radha said there are 871 anganwadi centres in Kodagu district, including 20 centres in Madikeri. Nearly 8,000 children have been enrolled this year alone.
The SP’s decision to enroll her daughter at an anganawadi centre has already become a sensation on social media. Many people are jostling to visit the anganwadi centre to a take selfie with two-and-half-year-old Kushi, an anganwadi source said. There are about 17 children, including seven girls, at the centre. Supervisor Savitha said it is one of the best centres in the town and is in no way inferior in terms of infrastructure or education when compared with the privately-run pre-schools.
A few philanthropists recently got wall paintings done at the anganwadi. A total of 52 topics, including songs, games, dance and story-telling, are taught to the kids.