STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: The Assam State Anganwadi Workers and Helpers Association (ASAWHA) staged a statewide protest on Monday over a slew of demands.
They have demanded the government to appoint them as regular employees and increase their monthly remuneration to Rs 21,000.
As the Anganwadi workers have been working amid the COVID pandemic, they have demanded the government to provide essential health equipment like PPE kits.
Among other demands from the association include – one-time financial assistance for the families of workers and helpers who died from COVID-19. The association has also demanded a specific pension policy. They underlined that the workers should get retirement benefits until the pension policy is not implemented.
In a statement, ASAWHA secretary Indira Newar said, "The government introduced the Integrated Child Development Services (?ICDS) scheme on October 2, 1975. For the implementation of this scheme in Assam, the Anganwadi workers and helpers are working under the Social Welfare Department. There are over 14 lakh Anganwadi centres in the country out of which as many as 62,153 centres are in Assam."
She underlined that the centres provide informal pre-primary education to the children. They also educate the children on health and nutrition, provide nutritious food, vaccination and conduct health checkups.
Newar said that the ICDS scheme has laid the foundation of Human Resource Development across the country.
"Through this scheme, the physical and mental well being of the children has improved. Importantly, the infant and maternal mortality rates have decreased," she added.
Lastly, she stressed that the Anganwadi workers and helpers are engaged in various works under the Central and State governments.
"The workers and helpers are distributing food materials to children, visiting households with Asha Karmis and Health Workers to collect information regarding COVID. However, despite such works, our remuneration has not yet been increased. We should be recognized as department/government officials," Newar added.
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