The Gujarat government has accepted the waiting for a salary increase for anganwadi employees and other helpers waiting for a dharna to be held across the state since Education minister Jitu Vaghani told reporters on Friday.
Vaghani announced that the present wage of anganwadi workers of 51,229 who earned a salary of Rs 7,800 will get paid Rs. 10,000, an increase of 2200 rupees. This was decided at the meeting of several organizations of workers from anganwadi. He also said that the mini anganwadi centers will be transformed into anganwadi-style centres.
The monthly pay for 51,229 helpers who earn Rs. 3,950 per month is now increased to Rs 5,500.
An total of 53,029 ganwadi centres are located in Gujarat among which 1800 are mini-anganwadi centers. The Minister stated, “These 1800 mini anganwadi centers in tribal and interior regions will be upgraded into regular anganwadi centers with an annual cost of 18.82 million.”
“The raise in wages is a significant decision taken of the government in state. In the past 15 years. However, the rise hasn’t been of this magnitude. There was a rise of around Rs 200, 300 or 700. We demanded that should the government agree to our demand for a rise in pay, it must be significant or not of any benefit,” said Arun Mehta the head of the Gujarat Anganwadi Karmachari Sangathan one of the people who attended the meeting.
Anganwadi residents have complained about the mobile phones that were provided their way in the year 2019 aren’t functioning anymore. The government has yet to decide whether to replace them with new models or offer them cash that they can purchase their own.
