ON March 2, Delhi Anganwadi Workers and Helpers Union (DAWHU), affiliated to the All India Federation of Anganwadi Workers and Helpers (AIFAWH), submitted a memorandum to the Delhi government to press for immediate resolution of demands over which an "in-principle approval” was given in the talks held earlier.

It is to be noted that in the talks held (earlier last month) on February 21 at Delhi Secretariat on the demands of Anganwadi workers and helpers, the ministerial delegation had given their consent to most of the demands mentioned in the memorandum.

After the talks, the DAWHU leaders were hopeful that their demands would be resolved. The union added that it is only natural for the workers to then get angry, since till now, no notification from the department has been issued.

After the first round of talks headed by women and child development minister Rajendra Pal Gautam last month, DAWHU had stated that despite an "in-principle approval", the AAP government denied providing any written assurance.

On March 2, the CITU-led union led a protest march to Delhi Secretariat, which was not allowed by the Delhi Police. "The AAP government had given in-principle approval to 15 of the 17 of our demands and had demanded one week time for further considerations. However, till now, we have heard nothing on it," said Kamla, general secretary, DAWHU.

She added that the union is demanding further talks with the AAP government. “We want to know what progress has been made on our demands,” she said.

Last month, coming under pressure from the Anganwadi workers and helpers who have been on an indefinite strike in the national capital, the Delhi government had announced that they had increased the honorarium of Anganwadi workers and helpers to Rs 12,720 and Rs 6,810 respectively.

There are over 10,000 government-run Anganwadi centres under the ICDS-administered Anganwadi scheme. A total strength of 22,000 Anganwadi workers and helpers, caters to over one lakh children and women in Delhi.

In Delhi, Anganwadi workers and helpers, while denied of "employee" status, are entitled to Rs 9,698 and Rs 4,839, respectively.

“Our demand was to implement the minimum wage. But you announced an increase in honorarium of only 40.73 per cent in the case of a helper and 31.43 per cent in that of an Anganwadi worker," DAWHU said in its memorandum. It added that the claim made by the Delhi government that the honorarium of Anganwadi workers and helpers is the highest in the country is also not true.