In Chitrakoot, IAS officer Pulkit Garg has made headlines by choosing to enroll his three-and-a-half-year-old daughter in a government anganwadi instead of a more costly private preschool. Garg and his wife undertook a comprehensive review of various schools and anganwadis before arriving at this decision. He emphasizes that the foundation of early education is built not on infrastructure but on care, activities, and a supportive learning environment, advocating for a shift in societal perceptions regarding education.

Pulkit Garg’s first posting as the District Magistrate is in Chitrakoot. At the time for his daughter's school admission, he approached the decision with the seriousness of a responsible parent rather than a mere formality. He visited multiple private preschools alongside various anganwadis, meticulously assessing factors such as facilities, the environment, activities, and child engagement. Ultimately, he found that the local anganwadi offered the most conducive atmosphere for early childhood education, leading to his decision to enroll his daughter there.

This decision carries significant implications for the ongoing debate about private versus government education in India. By prioritizing government educational facilities, Garg seeks to instill community trust in public education systems and demonstrate that quality learning can flourish in such environments. His action is more than a personal choice; it’s a statement advocating the need to reassess how educational quality is defined and perceived in society, particularly among parents who often lean towards privatized education for their children.