Anganwadi workers continue Secretariat stir

Nine days after they began an indefinite agitation in front of the Secretariat, anganwadi staff under the banner of the Indian National Anganvady Employees’ Federation, affiliated to the INTUC, on Wednesday remained resolute that the government recognise them as government employees and hike their pay.

Nine days after they began an indefinite agitation in front of the Secretariat, anganwadi staff under the banner of the Indian National Anganvady Employees’ Federation, affiliated to the INTUC, on Wednesday remained resolute that the government recognise them as government employees and hike their pay.

The day-and-night protest by anganwadi workers and helpers is to press their demands such as hike in pay to ₹21,000, distribution of pay at one go instead of in three instalments, gratuity, pension and other benefits.

There are more than 33,000 anganwadis in the State, with over 66,000 staff – one worker and helper each in an anganwadi. Nearly 20-25 children may attend an anganwadi.

On Wednesday, it was the turn of anganwadi workers from Kollam and Alappuzha to make their voice heard. They said they wanted the pay of anganwadi workers to be hiked to ₹21,000 and that of helpers to ₹18,000.

At present, anganwadi workers with more than 10 years of experience receive ₹13,000 as honorarium, while those with lesser experience get ₹12,500.

Anganwadi helpers with more than 10 years of experience get ₹9,000, while those with lesser experience get ₹8.500.

However, this is not enough to get by in these times, especially as the workers and helpers spend money from their own pocket for paying rent for anganwadis that do not function from own buildings, electricity and water charges, cooking cylinders, and purchasing vegetables and eggs but are reimbursed only later.