Too little, too late, fume anganwadis

Rachana Ramesh

Bengaluru: In the state budget presented on Friday, it was announced that the monthly honorarium of anganwadi workers will be increased by Rs 1,000.

Along with this, the government said that it has made a decision to grant gratuity for anganwadi workers and assistants, and has made a provision of Rs 40 crore for the same. It also promised the opportunity of voluntary retirement. However, the anganwadi workers are unhappy with the developments for various reasons.

S Varalakshmi, President of Karnataka State Anganwadi Workers Union (KSAWU), which is associated with Centre of Indian Trade Unions, said that the workers are not completely satisfied with the announcements. “Gratuity has been effective since the year 2011 but this budget says it is effective from April of 2023.

More than 35,000 workers who have built the ICDS will not be receiving any benefit,” she said. Along with this, the government had previously promised to appoint helpers to mini-anganwadi centres. In the 3,325 mini-anganwadi centres within the state, a single woman has to take care of all the initiatives, overburdening them.