Raise anganwadi workers’ pay, provide gratuity: Rahul to Centre

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has urged the government to increase the honorarium of anganwadi workers and help retiring workers and helpers in getting gratuity.

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He also nudged the government to lay out a path to “progressively improve their working conditions and social security”.

In a letter to Union Women and Child Development Minister Annpurna Devi, he said three years ago, the Supreme Court had recognised anganwadi workers and helpers as formal workers, entitling them to gratuity under the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972. “Yet, the Government of India has taken no steps to implement this judgment,” the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha said.

Referring to his recent meeting with a delegation from the All-India Anganwadi Workers’ Committee to discuss the challenges they faced, the former Congress chief described anganwadi workers and helpers as the backbone of the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) programme, who tirelessly serve women and children by combating hunger and malnutrition, as well as by providing pre-primary education.

The senior Congress leader highlighted that during the Covid pandemic, they served as frontline workers at a great personal risk, going above and beyond their duties. “Despite their hard work to develop the nation, anganwadi workers and helpers unfortunately continue to struggle with inadequate pay, working conditions and a lack of social security,” he noted in his letter dated March 26.

Gandhi said one of the most urgent issues raised by the delegation was the non-payment of gratuity. “I am sure you will agree that workers who serve with commitment for decades should get adequate retirement benefits,” he said.

Gandhi said anganwadi workers and helpers’ dedication and contribution deserved both recognition and respect, and their grievances must be heard and redressed. “Therefore, I request you to take three steps — significantly increase the central component of their honorariums; provide retiring workers and helpers gratuity; and lay out a path to progressively improve their working conditions and social security,” he said.

The Congress leader further said these steps would not only comply with the Supreme Court judgment and ensure their earnings matched their contributions, but also show the nation’s gratitude to the hard-working anganwadi workers and helpers.