Kodagu SP shows way, sends daughter to govt anganwadi

Mysuru: While most parents are turning their backs on government Kannada medium schools, Kodagu Superintendent of Police Suman D Pennekar, has admitted her two-and-a- half- year-old daughter to a government anganwadi in the district.

While her decision has raised a few eyebrows , it  was easy for Dr Pennekar, who is the daughter of a retired government school teacher and  studied in a government school herself.  She reportedly has the  support of her husband and family in admitting her daughter to the anganwadi and is proving an inspiration for many in her own department and elsewhere to send their children to similar schools.

Explaining her decision, Dr Pennekar says she wants her child to learn her mother tongue, Kannada, and mingle with children from all backgrounds.  “I want my child  to have a normal schooling without any pressure and enjoy her childhood,” she adds.

An ayurvedic doctor, Dr  Pennekar, who hails from Belgaum, is a 2013 batch IPS officer. She was ranked 126 in the UPSC and her first posting was as SP, Lokayukta.  She was posted to Kodagu on July 15, 2018,  and since then has won admiration for her active role in the rescue and relief operations during the floods in the district both in 2018 and in August this year.  

Her decision on her daughter's education could help Kannada medium government schools that are fast losing out to private English schools.