Sri Vijaya Puram, 17 Jan 2025:
At the call of the All India Federation of Anganwadi Workers & Helpers
(AIFAWH), Unions of Anganwadi Workers & Helpers all over the country have submitted
Memorandum to Smt Nirmala Sitaraman, Finance Minister, Government of India,
through the Child Development Project Officers of the concerned area, detailing various
demands of the Anganwadi staff to be included in the forthcoming Union Budget.
In Andaman & Nicobar Islands, the A & N Anganwadi Workers & Helpers Union
(CITU) has submitted the Memorandum to the Programme Officer (ICDS), Directorate of
Social Welfare. R. Surendran Pillai, President, CITU State Committee, along with a
delegation of the Union today (17.01.2025) met the Programme Officer (ICDS) and
submitted the Memorandum to be forwarded to the Union Finance Minister. The
delegation of the Union consisted of Geeta Devi, President, R. Anbukkarsi, General
Secretary and Fulcaria Dung Dung, Treasurer.
Through the Memorandum, the Union has demanded immediate implementation
of the Gujarat High Court order on regularization of services and the Supreme Court
order on Gratuity to Anganwadi Workers and Helpers, minimum wages of Rs. 26,000
p.m to Helpers and Rs.32,000 to Workers; Provide Pension, ESI, PF etc as per the
recommendations of 45th and 46th ILC. The Memorandum also contained the demands
on no privatisation in any form; no corporate involvement in ICDS in the name of CSR,
no Cash Transfers in ICDS, withdraw all measurers weakening the ICDS like direct cash
transfer to the beneficiaries, targeting and surveillance in the name of digitization of
schemes, privatization by introduction of centralized kitchen, etc. The Memorandum also
contained the demand of withdrawal of Labour Codes passed by the Parliament. The
Memorandum further demanded immediate payment of all dues of remuneration,
allowances, rent, mobile phones, recharges etc. The Union also demanded no
retrenchment till pension, ex- gratia and other social security measures to be ensured.
The Union also demanded for increased allocation of funds in the Budget for the ICDS
programme.
