Kerala Assembly: UDF walks out over anganwadi workers’ pay dispute
The Hindu
UDF stages walkout in Kerala Assembly over anganwadi workers' demands for higher pay, accusing LDF government of neglect.
The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) staged a walkout in the Kerala Assembly on Thursday (March 20, 2025) after Speaker A.N. Shamseer denied permission to move an adjournment motion to discuss the demands of protesting anganwadi workers, including a hike in pay to ₹21,000.
The Opposition accused the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government of failing to see the diverse work done by anganwadi workers, right from distribution of nutritious food, providing informal education, disease prevention, visits to houses of newborns and pregnant women, mobilising self-help groups, and doing work entrusted by the government and the Local Self-government department, including surveys and Census work, to get only a meagre pay.
The UDF took exception to the government stance that all issues of anganwadi workers had been discussed with their organisations and would soon be resolved. This was the fourth day of the strike by anganwadi workers in front of the Secretariat. The adjournment motion was being moved on behalf of the 65,000-plus anganwadi workers in the State, said Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) legislator Najeeb Kanthapuram.
Minister for Law P. Rajeeve pointed out that the problems raised by the anganwadi workers had been discussed with their organisations and an agreement reached. Even the time needed to examine the implementation of the agreement had been fixed. It was after this that the issues were being raised afresh by them.
The monthly honorarium of an anganwadi worker was ₹4,500 in the 60:40 ratio. The Union government’s share came to only ₹2,750. However, the State was giving ₹13,000 to workers with service of more than 10 years and ₹10,500 to those whose service came to below 10 years, he pointed out.
The Union government’s honorarium for anganwadi workers was ₹2,250. Of this, the Union government’s share came to ₹1,350. The State was paying ₹9,000 to those with service above 10 years and ₹8,000 for service less than that, the Minister pointed out.
In total, 80% of the amount paid to anganwadi workers and helpers was being borne by the State government, he said.
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