People's Democracy

(Weekly Organ of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)


Vol. XXVIII

No. 09

February 29, 2004

Anganwadi Workers Plea

 

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of India should ensure that the Group Insurance schemes already being implemented in some states like Karnataka are not withdrawn with the introduction of this scheme.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. (INN)