People's Democracy(Weekly Organ of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) |
Vol.
XXVIII
No. 09 February 29, 2004 |
THE
All India Federation of Anganwadi Workers and Helpers (AIFAWH) welcomed the
decision of the government of India to provide Group Insurance facility to the
anganwadi workers and helpers in the country. For several years, the federation
had been demanding that the government should implement group insurance for
anganwadi workers and helpers by contributing the entire premium amount.
However, as per the scheme formulated by the government, the anganwadi workers
and helpers who are paid a below poverty line ‘honorarium’ by the government
are also required to contribute towards the scheme.
The
AIFAWH in a statement demanded that the scheme be implemented immediately
without any further delay and that the government of India should ensure that
the Group Insurance schemes already being implemented in some states like
Karnataka are not withdrawn with the introduction of this scheme.
The
anganwadi workers and helpers could achieve this benefit due their continuous
nationwide joint struggles, felt
the AIFAWH while calling upon them to continue their joint struggles to fulfil
their other basic demands like regularisation, stopping the handing over of the
management of the anganwadi centres to Panchayats or NGOs. It asked them to play
an active role in pushing back the anti-anganwadi employee, anti-worker and
anti- people polices of the government.