Anganwadi workers meet PM seeking increase in remuneration

New Delhi, May 10 (UNI) Anganwadi Workers today met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and reminded him of his promise of increasing their remuneration in view of the immense services rendered by them for the physical, social and mental well being of the children.

A delegation of All India Federation of Anganwadi Workers and Helpers, under the leadership of CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat and Tapan Sen, met Dr Singh and raised the problems being faced by Anganwadi workers, Federation General Secretary Hemlata said here.

The delegation reminded the Prime Minister of his earlier assurance of August 3, 2006 that the government would raise the remuneration of the anganwadi employees and provide 'parting gift' to those being 'retired' at 58 to 60 years.

Expressing disappointment that no financial provision was made by the Finance Minister to meet the assurance in the budget, the delegation said that the financial requirement to meet these genuine demands of the anganwadi workers would be less than 0.1 per cent of the GDP and around one per cent of the total budget allocation.

''The amount required to meet the demands of the anganwadi workers immediately would be even less at only around Rs 3,500 crore.

Compared to the immense services rendered by the anganwadi workers and helpers for the physical, mental and social well being of the children below six years and pregnant and lactating women, it cannot be considered to be high at all,'' they pointed out.

The Prime Minister promised to look into their demands positively and talk to Women and Child Development Minister Renuka Chowdhury regarding them.

The Federation had organised a March to Parliament on May 8 in which thousands of anganwadi workers participated and courted arrest.

It called upon the anganwadi workers to continue the struggle till their demands were met. It asked the anganwadi workers to make the All India Demands Day on July 10 a great success by observing all India strike and holding project level Rasta Roko /dharna and demonstrations.

UNI