The Women and Child Development Ministry has been requesting the states and union territories to fill up the existing vacancies as soon as possible. They have been asked to empower the district magistrates and district collectors to speed up the process.
Meanwhile, Anganwadi workers in Maharashtra, under the Maharashtra Rajya Anganwadi Kruti Samiti, are protesting against the low honorarium of Rs 7000 per month,,as compared to that given to workers in other states, such as Kerala, where they receive Rs 12000 per month. The honorarium had been increased by the Central government last year, by Rs 1500, but the workers in Maharashtra are yet to receive the same. The protestors are also demanding a hike in the lumpsum retirement fund and monthly pension.
In Maharashtra, the government is said to be trying to close down Anganwadis with less than 25 beneficiaries, where the term ‘beneficiary’ includes only children between three and six years of age. The protestors feel this is unfair since the anganwadis cater to younger kids and infants, as well as pregnant and lactating women.
