People's Democracy

Anganwadi Workers Press For Honorarium Enhancement

MEETING the finance minister Jaswant Singh at New Delhi, November 13, a delegation of the All India Federation of Anganwadi Workers and Helpers has demanded that the government must enhance the honorarium for anganwadi workers and helpers from the beginning of this fiscal year. From The delegation also demanded immediate release of the required government order (GO) for implementing the enhancement that was announced by the former finance minister Yashwant Sinha.  

It will be noted that the budgetary provision for the proposed enhancement has been made, but the government has not issued the GO even 8 months after the announcement, causing a lot of resentment among the anganwadi workers. There are reports from several states that these workers are expressing their anger through mass actions, including burning of effigies of the unresponsive government. While the tax hikes and other burdens being imposed on the people come into force immediately, the meagre increase for the poor anganwadi workers has not reached them till now.

 The delegation pointed out that though 27 years have passed since the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) was initiated, anganwadi workers and helpers have not yet been regularised. It demanded that the honorarium for anganwadi workers be linked to the consumer price index and, pending their regularisation, the government must put in place a mechanism for regular periodic revision of the honorarium. Such a mechanism must also include representatives of the anganwadi workers.

 The finance minister assured that he would consider the matter and clear the issue within one week. He told that the enhancement would come into effect in this very fiscal year.

 The delegation consisted K Hemalatha of All India Coordination Committee of Working Women, All India Federation of Anganwadi Workers and Helpers’ general secretary A R Sindhu, CITU secretary W R Varada Rajan, CITU general council member Basudeb Acharya who is also a member of parliament. (INN)