Inaugurating a programme organised to submit a study report on functioning of anganwadis in Pondicherry and keep forth various demands by District level Anganwadi Workers’ and Helpers’ Association on Wednesday, he said that Anganwadi workers should not have a feeling that Government does not care for them because it is this BJP Government which has set aside adequate funds for the service of Anganwadi workers in its first budget and in its second budget it has earmarked funds for pension for retired Anganwadi workers.
A group of social workers and Anganwadi workers had conducted study of functioning of Anganwadis in Pondicherry and during the meet they kept forth a report of the visit and demanded Minister to provide salary to Anganwadi workers as provided in Pondicherry, ie., Rs 12,000 per month for Anganwadi workers and Rs 6,000 to helpers.
Responding to this demand, Minister said that Pondicherry is a state with 6 lakh population, which equals to population of one taluk here. There are over 2,069 anganwadis in district.
“Providing such a salary to workers and helpers in the State will be difficult because the State has the responsibility of dividing available funds judiciously for various other services too,” Narendra Swamy said.
Keeping forth the quality of the ready energy food mix provided to the Anganwadis, workers said that the food is tasteless and hence the children are reluctant to eat the food. They said that the food preparation and supply must be localised and the responsibility of the same must be given to women’s organisation.
To this, Minister said that teams will be sent to Andhra Pradesh, Tamilnadu and Kerala to look at the model of procurement of food there and a suitable decision will be taken within two months.
He hinted that most probably the preparation and supply of food for anganwadis will be given to women’s organisation.
Other demands
Merge anganwadi workers and helpers with more than 10 years service as government employees following Pondicherry model, appoint supervisors on seniority basis following Uttar Pradesh model, Department of Education must give priority to anganwadi workers who have completed TCH, D Ed courses while appointing primary teachers, give priority to anganwadi workers who have competed their degree while Education Department recruitment, provide group D status and provide employment to anganwadi helpers in government departments on basis of their qualification and provide wage of primary teachers to anganwadi workers working under women and child welfare department along with Group D workers wage to helpers.
Association President Jayalakshmi B R , Women and Child Welfare Department Deputy Director A Shakunthala among others were present on the occasion.
DH News Service