Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 17 January 2025
At the call of the All India Federation of Anganwadi Workers & Helpers (AIFAWH), Anganwadi workers and helpers across the country have submitted a memorandum to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, highlighting their demands for inclusion in the forthcoming Union Budget. The memorandum was delivered through Child Development Project Officers in various regions.
In the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the A&N Anganwadi Workers & Helpers Union, affiliated with the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), submitted the memorandum to the Programme Officer (ICDS) at the Directorate of Social Welfare on January 17, 2025. R. Surendran Pillai, President of the CITU State Committee, led the delegation, which included Union President Geeta Devi, General Secretary R. Anbukkarsi, and Treasurer Fulcaria Dung Dung.
The memorandum outlined several critical demands, including:
-Implementation of court orders: Immediate adherence to the Gujarat High Court ruling on regularisation of services and the Supreme Court order on gratuity for Anganwadi workers and helpers.
- Fair wages and benefits: Minimum wages of ₹26,000 per month for helpers and ₹32,000 per month for workers, along with pension, ESI, and PF benefits as per the recommendations of the 45th and 46th Indian Labour Conferences.
- Opposition to privatisation: Rejection of corporate involvement in the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) under the guise of CSR, cash transfers, centralised kitchens, and digitization measures perceived as undermining the scheme.
- Withdrawal of Labour Codes: Repeal of the Labour Codes passed by Parliament and assurance of no retrenchment until pension, ex-gratia, and other social security measures are secured.
- Budgetary support: Enhanced allocation of funds for the ICDS programme to address remuneration, allowances, infrastructure costs, and other pending dues.
Copies of the memorandum have also been forwarded to the Union Minister for Women and Child Development and the General Secretary of AIFAWH for further action.
The Anganwadi workers’ union emphasized that these measures are vital for safeguarding the welfare of workers and the integrity of the ICDS programme, which plays a crucial role in child development and nutrition across the country.