An inter-departmental report submitted to the Karnataka High Court has said that there are as many as 10 lakh children below 14 who are out of schools and anganwadis.

This came to light after the survey report was submitted to the court in a public interest litigation (PIL) senior advocate K N Phaneendra which was taken up suo motu by the court in 2013 and Acting Chief Justice Alok Aradhe heard the case on Wednesday.

The submission made to the court had a status report of children collected through a door-to-door survey conducted by Urban Development, Rural Development, Women and Child Development Department among the other departments.

The survey was conducted in rural Karnataka in October 2021 and in the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and 319 urban local body limits in March 2022.

Surveyors found that 15,338 children aged between six and 14 are out of school across Karnataka. Another 4.54 lakh children below the age of three are not enrolled in anganwadis. An additional 5.33 lakh children between 4 and 6 are also not enrolled. Thus, a total of 10.12 lakh children are out of the education system in the state.

In urban areas, a total of 33.42 lakh homes were surveyed and 13.73 lakh children below the age of 18 were identified. In rural areas, 84.02 lakh homes were surveyed, and 35.24 children were identified.

The court has directed the committee of higher officials constituted by it to meet on July 16 and find ways to bring back children, especially those between three and six years of age, to anganwadis. Hearing of the case was adjourned to July 19.

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