Saturday, 27 JULY 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN
Anganwadi workers have asked the Women Empowerment and Child Development (WECD) department to consider raising the rent amount paid to them for the Anganwadi Centre to address the challenges faced by workers when utilising rented facilities. Stating this, president of the Anganwadi Workers Association Rekha Negi highlighted that Anganwadi centres have been operating in rented buildings throughout the state for many years. Further, some Anganwadi centres are situated within primary schools in Uttarakhand. Negi emphasised that these Anganwadi centres, whether housed in rented buildings or primary schools, lack the necessary facilities for proper functioning, creating difficulties for the workers.
Negi further indicated that the department imposed the rent charges after a considerable delay, causing inconvenience for Anganwadi workers with the landlord. In light of these circumstances, she said that if individuals are establishing Anganwadi centres in their private premises, the department should not raise any objections. Additionally, Negi said that considering this, she asked the WECD through the letter that the department to ensure that if there are any objections, the rent for Anganwadi centers should be set at ₹4,000 in urban areas and ₹2,000 in rural areas, to be deposited in the Anganwadi account at the start of each month. This initiative aims to prevent any disputes for the Anganwadi workers regarding renting the centres, she added.
She further added that no Anganwadi worker will be transferred until the circumstances are resolved. If the department exert excessive pressure to relocate the centre from private premises, they will be compelled to protest against the department in the form of street demonstrations, Negi said.
