Anganwadi staff protest before the Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday asking hikes at their reward. | Photo Credit: Nirmal Harindran
Nine days after, before the indefinite agitation before the Secretariat, Anganwadi employees under the Indian National Federation of employees Anganvady, associated with intuc, remained on Wednesday that the government recognizes them as government employees and rises their remuneration.
Protest of the daily and night of anganwadi workers and helpers is to push their requirements such as a trip to 21,000 GBP, division of reward into one place in three installments, remuneration, pension and other benefits.
There are more than 33,000 Anganwadis in the state, with more than 66,000 employees – one worker and helper in Anganwadi. Almost 20-25 children can participate in Anganwadi.
On Wednesday, Anganwadi of Kollam and Alappuzha were on a number of Anganwadi staff to hear their voice. They said they wanted Anganwadi’s payment to increase to 21,000 ₹ and a reward of helpers to 18,000 ₹.
Currently, Anganwadi workers with more than 10 years of experience receive 13,000 ₹ as a honor, while those with less experience gain 12,500 GBP.
Anganwadi helpers with more than 10 years of experience gain 9,000 GBP, while those who have less experience gain 8,500 GBP.
However, this is not enough at these times, especially because workers and helpers spend money from their own pocket for paying rent for Anganwadis who do not work from their own buildings, electricity and water charges, cylinders and vegetable and eggs, but are paid only later.
Employees say that in addition to ensuring nutritional food for children attending Anganwadis and providing them with informal education to ensure their physical and mental development, they provide health and nutrition of adolescent girls and then from their marriage to pregnancy, birth of children and lactation. They also perform awareness programs of ensuring the safety of children and adolescents.
However, they are burdened with other government work such as surveys.
If that is not enough, they have to record everything right from the number of children visiting Anganwadis per day and their nutritional status and immunization to the details of scheme recipients, such as Pradhan Mantri Vandan Yojan via phones (common application software). Poor Internet connection is a big headache. It must also maintain at least 11 data registers, although the introduction of CAS should reduce its work.
Anganwadi staff contribute 500 GBP and 250 GBP helpers to their Social Fund Council a month, but those who retired in the last two have not received any money. If they left for six months, they would not receive a pension, they say.
“We will not receive any travel allowance, or for participation in meetings or picking up materials for Anganwadis.”
There is a department where employees are treated in this way, ask angry workers and Anganwadi.
The President of the Federation Ajay Tharayil said that the striking Anganwadi staff would eliminate the Secretariat March on March 29. KC Venugopal, a deputy, would start a protest.
Published – 26 March 2025 22:50 is
