Anganwadi Workers & Helpers Submit Memorandum of Demands to Finance Minister

Sri Vijaya Puram, Jan 17: 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 Mrs. 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.
Copies of the Memorandum were also sent to the Minister for Women & Child Development, Govt. of India, General Secretary, AIFAWH, etc. for necessary action.