Saturday, 21 OCTOBER 2023 | PNS | DEHRADUN
The Anganwadi workers of the State refuted the claims of the Women Empowerment and Child Development (WECD) department regarding the transportation expenses under the take-home ration scheme. The State president of the Anganwadi Workers Association Rekha Negi claimed that the Anganwadi workers are now receiving Rs seven per child instead of Rs eight per child. This reduction in beneficiary rates by the government has posed a problem for the Anganwadi workers as they have to handle all the expenses of each centre with this lower amount, she added.
She said that the WECD department has said that the transportation expenses of take-home ration are covered in the mentioned beneficiary rate. She emphasised that out of Rs seven, Rs five was deducted for milling flour. “Considering this, it is not possible for us to manage transportation expenses within the provided beneficiary rates,” she said.
Negi further added that the deadline for action on their demands has elapsed. Considering this, she and other Anganwadi workers will soon stage a protest to ensure that their demands are fulfilled, she added.
It will be recalled that for the past few weeks, Negi has been consistently demanding transportation expenses from WECD. In response, the director of WECD Prashant Arya, had stated that the department provides Rs eight for children and Rs 9.5 as beneficiary rates for pregnant women to the Anganwadi workers on a daily basis. These beneficiary rates are applicable for all types of expenses. If Anganwadi workers still find the transportation cost excessive, they can attach the bill and claim reimbursement from the department, Arya has stated.
