After nearly a two-month closure due to a strike, lakhs of anganwadis across the state reopened on Republic Day for flag hoisting, with workers resuming their daily tasks on Monday (January 29).
However, it is unclear whether or not the termination notices served to some of the workers on strike would be withdrawn.
Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Commissioner Rubal Agarwal did not wish to comment on the same. Thousands of Anganwadi workers across the state had taken Azad Maidan by storm earlier this month, demanding fair treatment for the essential services they provide.
Although their primary demand for a rise in honorarium is still pending, the strike brought about guarantees for pension, gratuity, and new smartphones for the workers.
“Parents in the area are relieved that the centres have reopened. I have not received a phone yet but even the announcement is a relief. We are hoping our pay will also increase with time,” said Savita Chavan, an anganwadi worker in Ghatkopar who caters to 30 children in her area.
The Anganwadi workers require smartphones to enter daily data on the health of children and pregnant women into the Union government`s ‘Poshan Tracker’ (nutrition tracker) app.
Without this, their day`s honorarium is not sanctioned. At the moment, the workers are paid R10,000, and the helpers are paid R5,500 per month.
“The workers were carrying out activities using Panasonic smartphones which were sub-standard. Now, they will be receiving a Samsung phone, but the government stuck to its stand and refused to increase the honorarium,” said Shubha Shamim, president of Anganwadi Karmachari Sanghatana affiliated with CITU and convener of the Maharashtra Anganwadi Kruti Samiti.
One more achievement of the strike is the ICDS department`s decision to convert `mini anganwadis` into regular ones (main anganwadi). In total, there are about 13,000 mini anganwadis in small or remote areas of the state. They function with one anganwadi worker per centre with no additional helper; the honorarium paid to the worker is around R3,000 per month.
“These Anganwadi centres were created in proportion to the population. But they still cater to more children than the regular centres due to the lack of other such facilities in smaller areas,” Shamim said.
There would now be a helper along with an Anganwadi worker, and her honorarium would be at par with those workers who are posted at regular centres. “The process to convert mini anganwadis to main on is going on,” Agarwal said while confirming the development.
She added that there will be a comprehensive policy on pension which will take a few months. “There are still some discussions regarding this,” she said.
Jan 29
Day Anganwadi workers resumed work
QUOTE
‘Parents in the area are relieved that the centres have reopened. I have not received a phone yet but even the announcement is a relief. We are hoping our pay will also increase with time
Savita Chavan, Anganwadi worker in Ghatkopar
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