Anganwadi workers protest outside the Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday demanding hike in their remuneration.
| Photo Credit: NIRMAL HARINDRAN

Nine days after they began an indefinite agitation in front of the Secretariat, anganwadi staff under the banner of the Indian National Anganvady Employees’ Federation, affiliated to the INTUC, on Wednesday remained resolute that the government recognise them as government employees and hike their pay.

The day-and-night protest by anganwadi workers and helpers is to press their demands such as hike in pay to ₹21,000, distribution of pay at one go instead of in three instalments, gratuity, pension and other benefits.

There are more than 33,000 anganwadis in the State, with over 66,000 staff – one worker and helper each in an anganwadi. Nearly 20-25 children may attend an anganwadi.

On Wednesday, it was the turn of anganwadi workers from Kollam and Alappuzha to make their voice heard. They said they wanted the pay of anganwadi workers to be hiked to ₹21,000 and that of helpers to ₹18,000.

At present, anganwadi workers with more than 10 years of experience receive ₹13,000 as honorarium, while those with lesser experience get ₹12,500.

Anganwadi helpers with more than 10 years of experience get ₹9,000, while those with lesser experience get ₹8.500.

However, this is not enough to get by in these times, especially as the workers and helpers spend money from their own pocket for paying rent for anganwadis that do not function from own buildings, electricity and water charges, cooking cylinders, and purchasing vegetables and eggs but are reimbursed only later.

The staff say that besides ensuring nutritious food for children attending anganwadis and providing them informal education to ensure their physical and mental development, they ensure the health and nutrition of adolescent girls and then from their marriage on to their pregnancy, child birth, and lactation. They also conduct awareness programmes to ensure safety of children and adolescents.

However, they are burdened by other government work too such as surveys.

If that were not enough, they have to upload everything right from the number of children attending anganwadis on a day and their nutritional status and immunisation to details of beneficiaries of schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana through phones provided to them with CAS (common application software). Poor internet connectivity is a major headache. They also have to maintain at least 11 data registers though the introduction of CAS should have reduced their work.

Anganwadi workers contribute ₹500 and helpers ₹250 a month to their welfare fund board, but those who have retired in the past two have not got any money. If they take leave for six months at a stretch, they would not get pension, they allege.

“We do not get any travel allowance, either for attending meetings or picking up materials for anganwadis.”

Is there any department where the staff are treated in this manner, ask the irate anganwadi workers and helpers.

Federation president Ajay Tharayil said the striking anganwadi staff would take out a Secretariat march on March 29. K.C. Venugopal, MP, would inaugurate the protest.