THE All India Federation of Anganwadi Workers and Helpers (AIFAWH) was assured by the secretary of the ministry for women and child development, that insurance and compensation would be given for frontline workers affected by Covid-19. The secretary also assured the AIFAWH that workers would not be penalised anymore with the ‘Poshan Tracker’ mobile application.

The delegation consisting of A R Sindhu, general secretary, AIFAWH and V Sivadasan, MP, Rajya Sabha met the secretary on June 30 and discussed the compelling issues faced by the anganwadi workers and helpers in the country at present. They also submitted a memorandum on the demands to the secretary who assured to fulfil some of their demands.

The delegation demanded immediate notification of anganwadi workers as frontline workers and immediate release of the declared compensation of Rs 50 lakh. The secretary said that it is a genuine demand and assured that immediate measures will be taken on that. In case the insurance company is not ready to pay, the government will pay, he said.

The AIFAWH demanded that the wage of the anganwadi workers or the food for the beneficiaries must not be linked to the ‘Poshan Tracker’ App without providing telephones, mobile data or net connectivity. The secretary assured that although the Poshan Tracker App is essential, the wage of anganwadi workers and the nutrition to the beneficiaries will not be stopped.

The delegation raised the issue of ‘Poshan Vatika’ being imposed on the anganwadi workers. The secretary said that it will be the responsibility of the local bodies to implement the scheme and not that of the workers.

The delegation raised the issue of the opening of pre-schools in schools and the merger and shifting of the anganwadi centres to schools. The secretary said that it is a complex issue and is being sorted out with the HRD ministry and the department of education.

AIFAWH submitted a separate memorandum on the pending wages of the anganwadi workers and helpers of Jammu & Kashmir. He assured that he will look into the issue and do the needful. He also said that he will take up all such complaints with concrete information.

The delegation reiterated the demand of the increase in remuneration of the ‘mini anganwadi workers’ who do the work of both worker and helper, on par with the regular anganwadi workers. The secretary assured the matter will be immediately resolved. The secretary also assured that he will reissue the orders on the various benefits of the anganwadi workers and helpers.

The AIFAWH, after the meeting said that the secretary was non-committal on other basic demands and was vocal about the success of the digitisation process. It said that the government has agreed to provide compensation to the victims and had to assure that no wages will be cut for not downloading ‘Poshan Tracker’ as a result of the continuous struggles put up by the workers.

However, the government is making false claims on the ‘Poshan Tracker’ that there are more downloads than the total number of workers, the AIFAWH said. “Without even providing mobile phones, data packs or net connectivity, the government is forcing anganwadi workers to propagate the benefits of the App and to make videos thanking the prime minister! The AIFAWH will boycott the direction for publicity stunt using the anganwadi workers.” it said.

The AIFAWH called upon all its state units and the anganwadi workers and helpers to intensify the struggles on their demands of  increased budget allocation for strengthening the ICDS , regularisation, minimum wages and social security including pension to the workers and against privatisation in any form.

The AIFAWH called upon the anganwadi workers and helpers throughout the country to participate in large numbers on the AIFAWH Demands Day on July 12, 2021.