Welfare fund for anganwadi workers gets clearance

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE, APRIL 18. A proposal to start a welfare fund for anganwadi workers, made by the Minister for Women and Child Development, Ms. Motamma, has been cleared by the Finance Department.

The proposal envisages payment of a sum of Rs. 10,000 to an anganwadi worker in case of serious illness, or to the family in case of the worker's death, Ms. Motamma told presspersons here today.

The proposal had been opposed earlier by the Finance Department, which argued that if such a scheme was introduced for anganwadi workers, it would have to be extended to gram sahayaks also.

The Finance Department had also proposed that the workers should contribute Rs. 10 each month towards the fund, but this condition had also been given up since the anganwadi workers were getting a meagre honorarium. The department proposed to make an initial contribution of Rs. 2 lakhs towards the fund. The departmental budget would be accordingly reallocated, the minister said.

Asked about the demand for an additional 6,000 anganwadis, Ms. Motamma said the Centre had informed the State that this would be examined after meeting the demands of other States which had fewer anganwadis.

Ms. Motamma said the State Government was giving Rs. 1,000 extra to each anganwadi for the replacement of aluminium cups and plates with those made of steel and for the purchase of study and playing materials as the Government wanted to introduce the school concept in anganwadis. At present the Centre was not paying anything, apart from the honorarium of anganwadi teachers.

The Centre had convened a meeting of women and child development ministers on April 26 and 27 to discuss and review policies and programmes.

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