Uttarakhand – Honorarium for Anganwadi workers and helpers in Uttarakhand may soon be increased, bringing relief to nearly 40,000 workers. The Women Empowerment and Child Development Department has prepared a proposal recommending an increase of up to ₹1,600 in the monthly honorarium. Anganwadi workers have been protesting since 14 November over long-pending demands.
Workers are demanding that they be declared state employees. Until that is done, they seek a raise in honorarium from ₹9,300 to ₹24,000 per month. Other demands include filling vacant supervisor posts through promotion, offering pension benefits after retirement, and increasing the one-time retirement assistance from the Women Welfare Fund to at least ₹5 lakh.
The state government formed a committee in 2024 under the chairmanship of former Additional Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan to examine the issues of Anganwadi workers, cooks, and ASHA workers. Several meetings were held to review their demands.
According to Sushila Khatri, State President of the Uttarakhand Anganwadi Employees Association, the government has agreed to provide ₹1 lakh as a one-time retirement benefit, with an annual 5% increase. She said that applications for supervisor posts will also be invited soon. She stated that until the government issues written orders or assurances, the protest will continue.
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Women Empowerment and Child Development Minister Rekha Arya said that Anganwadi workers are the strength of the department, playing a vital role in implementing government welfare schemes at the grassroots level, and the government is positive about increasing their honorarium.
