The Delhi government has decided to increase the honorarium of Anganwadi workers and helpers to ₹12,720 and ₹6,810 respectively. The announcement, made on Thursday by Social Welfare Minister Rajendra Pal Gautam, comes 25 days after the workers went on an indefinite strike. The Delhi State Anganwadi Workers and Sahayika Sangh (DSAWHU), however, has rejected the honorarium revision and said it will continue the strike outside Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s residence.
The union said in a statement that the hike is “very low” and the workers will not consider any decision of the government until it discusses the issues with them.
Crores of women Anganwadi workers and helpers are protesting across the city under the banner of DSAWHU. They are demanding that the honorarium of workers and helpers be increased to ₹25,000 and ₹20,000, respectively, and that their services be regularized with retirement benefits.
Anganwadi workers in Delhi last saw the honorarium revision in August 2017 after a 58-day long strike. According to the union, the present honorarium of workers and helpers is ₹ 9,678 and ₹ 4,839 respectively. Apart from the honorarium, they also get some incentives for selected programs and ₹200 per month as communication allowance.
‘Highest Honorarium’
Addressing the media, Women and Child Development Minister Rajendra Pal Gautam said, “In 2017, the Delhi government increased the salary of Anganwadi workers from ₹5,000 to ₹9,678 and Anganwadi helpers from ₹5,000 to ₹9,678 keeping in mind the semi-skilled 2,500 to ₹ 4,839. Consider the work and working hours. It is being increased to ₹ 12,720 and ₹ 6,810 respectively. With this decision, Delhi is the only state in India to pay the highest honorarium to Anganwadi workers. The minister said that a few days back he held a meeting with some members of the Anganwadi union who presented their list of demands. But the DSAWHU, representing the protesting workers, had boycotted the meeting. “We had informed them That we will take a positive decision regarding their demands in the next seven days. Today I am happy to announce that our Government has fulfilled its promise. Honorarium has been increased. I want to assure everyone Am that the (Arvind) Kejriwal government is sensitive to the demands of Anganwadi workers in this difficult time. This decision has been approved by the cabinet and will be implemented from March 1, 2022.
He also appealed to the Anganwadi workers and helpers to come to their duty now so that children and pregnant women can get their prescribed ration.
Reacting to the increase in honorarium, Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor said that the Delhi government is “totally insensitive” towards the Anganwadi workers. “I suggest that the government should accept the demands of the protesting Anganwadi workers or at least give them minimum wages for skilled and semi-skilled workers,” he said.
There are about 10,700 Anganwadi centers in the city and about 20,000 workers and helpers. According to DSAWHU, 8,000-10,000 workers have been protesting near Mr Kejriwal’s residence every day since January 31. According to local police, their number at the protest site is above 2,000.