THE Left Front government of Tripura took another path breaking step by introducing pension scheme for anganwadi workers and helpers at their attaining the age of 60 years and also social pension schemes for female domestic workers, transgender persons, leprosy patients and AIDS patients. The decision to this effect was taken in the meeting of the council of ministers. Chief Minister Manik Sarkar briefed the media about the decisions at the secretariat. 

The Left Front government of Tripura is in the forefront of providing social security to the most deprived, vulnerable people in the society benefitting women, children, old and disabled persons. Presently the government of Tripura is implementing 20 different pension schemes benefitting 1,07,060 beneficiaries every month. In addition to these, the government decided to introduce four more new pension schemes for female domestic workers, transgender persons, leprosy patients and AIDS patients. While the female domestic workers will get a monthly pension of Rs 350, others will be given Rs 500. This will cost the government an amount of Rs 233 lakhs annually. 

A more important decision was to introduce pension scheme for anganwadi workers and helpers. It is worth mentioning that very few states in the country have so far introduced this scheme. The scheme will be applicable for those who have worked for at least 10 years continuously. These workers and helpers at their attaining the age of 60 years and retirement will be given a pension of Rs 500 and 350 respectively. They will also have the option of choosing the monthly pension scheme or taking home a lump sum amount of Rs 50,000 and 30,000 respectively. If the worker or the helper dies while in service after serving for a minimum of five years, the legal survivors of the deceased worker will get a financial benefit of Rs 50,000 while the helper's family will receive Rs 30,000. There are 9,911 anganwadi centres in the state. In another decision, the state government has decided to increase the subsidy in Swavalamban scheme from 25 to 30 percent and raised the ceiling of subsidy from existing Rs 50,000 to Rs 65,000.The existing subsidy of 35 percent for women will remain the same. So far 11,279 beneficiaries have been assisted by the Swavalamban scheme and Rs 178.06 crores disbursed till date.

AIFAWH WELCOMES

THE DECISION

All India Federation of Anganwadi Workers and Helpers welcomes the decision of the Left front government of Tripura to extend pension to the anganwadi workers and helpers of the state. AIFAWH congratulates the Tripura anganwadi workers and helpers union (CITU) for their victory. The union which has a support of 99.1 percent of the total employees has been continuously on campaign and struggles for improving their working conditions.

This decision of the Left Front government in Tripura is all the more important considering the critical financial situation of the state and the drastic cut in the central budget allocation to the ICDS.

Many states like Bihar had stopped the supplementary nutrition in anganwadi centres. Many other states like Delhi, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Pondicherry etc, have not been paying the remuneration of the employees for months. Tripura government has once again proved their pro-worker attitude.

Tripura is one among the first states to introduce the state’s contribution in the remuneration of the anganwadi workers and helpers. The government had increased the remuneration of the workers and helpers in July 2015 to make it Rs 6,511 and Rs 3,815 respectively.