Sonia Gandhi asks Centre to double contribution to compensation of ASHA and Anganwadi workers: ‘They are overburdened and underpaid’
During her speech in Rajya Sabha, Sonia Gandhi pointed out the low honorarium of ASHA and Anganwadi workers and the nearly 3 lakh vacancies in the Integrated Child Development Services.
Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi speaks in Rajya Sabha during the Winter Session of the Parliament, in New Delhi on Tuesday. (Source: Sansad TV/ANI) Highlighting the “distress of women workers implementing critical government programmes”, Congress MP Sonia Gandhi Tuesday urged the Centre to double its contribution to the compensation of Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) and Anganwadi workers.
Speaking during Zero Hour in Rajya Sabha, she spoke of the conditions of ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers and helpers, and community resource people under the National Rural Livelihood Mission.
“These initiatives are intended as pathways to women’s empowerment. However, despite their vital contribution to public service delivery, these women workers are overburdened and underpaid,” she said.
“Across the country, ASHA workers undertake immunisation, mobilisation, maternal health, and family welfare, yet they remain volunteers with low honorarium and limited social security. Anganwadi workers are similarly paid a meagre base honorarium of Rs 4,500 and Rs 2,250 per month by the Union government,” she said.
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