Jaipur: An estimated 1.25 lakh anganwadi workers across the state will go on strike from Wednesday over pending payment of honorarium and demand for an increase in the amount. The strike call coincides with the women and child development department’s plan to inaugurate toy banks at 63,000 anganwadi centres across the state, set up with the aim of improving preschool learning for children aged 3 -6 years and increasing enrolment.From July 1-7, anganwadi centres will open regularly, and attendance will be recorded, but no departmental work — whether online or offline — will be performed. From July 7, the workers will lock the centres and completely boycott work. Due to the strike, the supply of nutritious meals to children aged 3-6 years at the anganwadi centres, early childhood education activities, and health services for women will be affected.Anganwadi workers association said that despite repeated assurances from the state govt, their honorarium has not been increased and payments are also delayed, leading to financial stress on them. In the state, anganwadi workers receive an honorarium between Rs 6,000 and Rs 10,000 depending on different tasks.Chhotelal Bunkar, national coordinator of All India Anganwadi Employees Federation, who works from Jaipur, said, “Anganwadi workers are given different tasks starting from immunisation, spreading awareness among families for nutrition, sanitary napkin distribution, conducting surveys, distribution of nutrition supplements and many other tasks, but they are never paid on time. They are the last-mile connectivity for govt schemes, but till we go on protest, their voices are not heard.”The association further said that the current govt, as part of its election manifesto, promised to increase the honorarium. “The current govt promised to pay an honorarium of Rs 13,000, which has not been increased, and even the existing amount is not being paid on time,” he added.
