The Rajya Sabha today took up the private member resolution post lunch. When the House assembled at 2 PM, Nominated member Sudha Murty moved the resolution urging the government to amend the Constitution to introduce a new Article 21B guaranteeing free and compulsory Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) for all children between three to six years of age and to work towards universal access to quality ECCE through strengthened Anganwadi services.

Moving the resolution, Sudha Murty said that the dream of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is to make India a developed nation by 2047. She said, there are many paths to realise this dream, and her demand to introduce Article 21B is one of the paths. She said education is something which is not inherited but has to be learnt at a proper age and proper school. She also congratulated the Anganwadi workers who are working and giving yeoman service and contributing to the country, particularly in rural areas. Dr Medha Vishram Kulkarni of the BJP supported the resolution, emphasising the need to strengthen the Anganwadi system. She said, there are 14 lakh Anganwadi Centres in the country, in which around 13.48 lakh workers and over 10 lakh helpers are working.

P Wilson of DMK welcomed the Private Member’s resolution, saying that this can also be done by amending Article 21A itself. Members from other political parties, including Swati Maliwal of AAP, Dr Sasmit Patra of BJD and Dr Joshn Brittas of CPI(M), also participated in the discussion. Later, the House took up Special mentions in which members from various political parties raised the issues of urgent public importance. After completing this business, the House was adjourned to meet on 15th December at 11 AM.