Tuesday, 10 SEPTEMBER 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN
Anganwadi workers have raised concerns regarding the amount provided by the State government upon their retirement. Presently, Anganwadi workers in Uttarakhand receive Rs 30,000 when they retire. In response to this, Anganwadi workers across the State are appealing for an increase in the retirement amount to Rs 10 lakh for some months now. Sources indicate that the Women Empowerment and Child Development (WECD) minister, Rekha Arya has recently directed the department to propose an increase in the retirement amount for each Anganwadi worker in the state to Rs one lakh. Consequently, Anganwadi workers throughout the state have expressed reservations about the initiative to raise the retirement amount to Rs one lakh instead of Rs 10 lakh, aligning with their longstanding demands. Informing about this, the president of the Anganwadi workers union Rekha Negi informed that following the recent provision made by the WECD minister to provide Rs one lakh, all Anganwadi workers have expressed their reactions. She added that in the demand letter, they have been consistently urging the government to grant a retirement amount of Rs 10 lakh. She further informed that earlier the State government proposed collecting an equal monthly amount of Rs 100 from each of the workers and depositing it into a fund, where the government also pledged to contribute the same amount. It was agreed to collectively provide this sum to the retiring worker who reaches 60 years of age, ensuring she does not leave empty-handed. Since 2016, this amount has been consistently deposited, allocated for Anganwadi workers who retire or pass away, she said. Negi said that the government and department have been notified many times regarding these issues, yet no actions have been taken. Despite numerous pleas, she criticised the decision of granting only Rs one lakh. She stressed that if retirement funds do not exceed Rs 10 lakh, the deductions should cease and the accumulated amount with interest should be returned to each worker’s account.
