Govt’s Rs 1,000 hike fails to address woes
PANAJI
In a budget that earmarked Rs 449.42 crores for the Women & Child Development sector, a mere Rs 1,000 hike for Anganwadi workers and helpers has left thousands disillusioned. The long-overdue increase, coming after nearly five years, has failed to bring any relief to around 1,237 Anganwadi workers and 1,149 helpers demanding a better raise for their demanding roles.
“It’s a six-day work week, and our salaries were already inadequate given the rising cost of living. The government should have been more considerate,” one Anganwadi worker told The Goan, requesting anonymity due to fears of departmental backlash.
Currently, Anganwadi workers in Goa earn between Rs 10,500 and Rs 18,000 per month, depending on experience, while helpers receive between Rs 7,000 and Rs 7,500. Although the wages are comparatively higher than those in some states, they are insufficient against Goa’s high cost of living.
“The job extends far beyond childcare as workers are responsible for primary health check-ups, immunizations, supplementary nutrition programs and educating women on family planning, health and overall well-being,” said another.
But salary is only one part of the frustration. The workers and helpers lamented the absence of government benefits akin to those of government employees. “We have no retirement benefits or financial security,” a helper said.
Further aggravating concerns is the government’s silence on the recent extension of the retirement age to 62 years without additional benefits. “If we resign, even on medical grounds, we lose all entitlements. We receive around Rs 5 lakh upon retirement but only if we retire at the prescribed age. Retiring early means walking away with nothing,” another worker explained.
Activist Mahesh Mhambrey, who along with Hrudyanath Shirodkar, has been vocal about Anganwadi issues, condemned the government’s approach. “These workers live paycheck to paycheck with no PF or gratuity… There are instances wherein most of them have to even buy books with their own money before getting reimbursed from the head office in Panaji. Why can’t the government make advance provisions or supply books directly to these centres,” Mhambrey questioned.
