A Correspondent
Goalpara: The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) under the Ministry of Women and Child Development has recently crossed 43 years since its inception. However, the Anganwadi workers, helpers and cooks who have made it a successful and beneficial, are on the road today demanding their dues.
On Monday, thousands of ICDS-related women took out a rally on the streets of Goalpara town in Lower Assam displaying cards and highlighting their demands. From Goalpara College field to the Deputy Commissioner’s office, they made a long queue and submitted a memorandum addressed to the Prime Minister. The memorandum emphasized giving at least Rs 18,000 to these workers from the present Rs 3,000. Moreover, they demanded pension scheme for a secure future.
“Despite working for 8 hours per day, we get this paltry amount. No money is given for medical treatment. On the other hand, every single day, the government throws the burden of implementing new schemes on us whereas honorarium remains the same,” said Praneswari Nath, the district president of the Anganwadi workers, helpers and midday meal cooks. She further alleged that the Central Government had allocated less than Rs 100 crore in the 2018-19 budget whereas the advisors committee on this ICDS scheme recommended Rs 28,405 crore. “We demand increase of this budget,” she added.
Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) is a government programme in India which provides food, preschool education, primary healthcare, immunization, health check-up and referral services to children under 6 years of age and their mothers. The scheme was launched first in the year 1975, discontinued in 1978 by the government of Morarji Desai, and then re-launched during the Tenth Five Year Plan.
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