MUMBAI, March 15: The Opposition, led by the Congress in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, today staged a walkout protesting the State Government's failure in providing revised honorarium to over 88,000 Anganwadi teachers and assistants.The Opposition members, led by Chhagan Bhujbal and even members from the treasury benches, wanted the Government to announce an additional payment of Rs 100 per month to Anganwadi teachers as interim relief.Deputy Chief Minister Gopinath Munde, however, refused to grant any relief to Anganwadi teachers. The issue was discussed for over 55 minutes during question hour in the Legislative Council.The debate started with Vyankappa Patki, Gangadhat Patne, Prakash Javadekar, Ashok Modak, Shishir Shinde asking about revision of the honorarium being paid to Anganwadi teachers.The teachers are paid Rs 900 per month. A committee appointed by the State Government and headed by Education Minister Sudhir Joshi has recommended that the honorarium be increased to Rs 1,500 permonth for teachers and Rs 925 per month for assistants respectively.Social Welfare Minister Baban Gholap told the House that the honorarium was dependent on funds received from the Union Government and the centre had to take the final decision. Bhujbal, however, said the Government had failed to keep its promise to thousands of Anganwadi teachers who were on an indefinite hunger strike at Azad Maidan in Mumbai.Immediately after he spoke, the Opposition members started shouting anti-Government slogans and Chairman N S Pharande had to adjourn the House for five minutes. After the House reassembled, Munde said the Government was considering the Anganwadi teachers' demands. ``It was the alliance government that gave Rs 250 each to all Anganwadi teachers during Diwali. We are waiting for the Centre to take a decision. Till then, the Government will not even grant any interim relief,'' Munde said.This only angered Opposition members, and even ruling party members, further. The Opposition members againstarted shouting slogans. By this time, about 55 minutes of the question hour had been taken up, and Pharande called for the next question. This triggered chaos in the House and members began shouting slogans. Amidst the chaos, Bhujbal led Opposition members out of the House saying the Government was not at all interested in helping the teachers.Nishigandha Mogal of the Bharatiya Janata Party asked Munde if the Government would at least pay an additional Rs 100 per month to the teachers as interim relief. She also wanted to know if the Government would set a deadline for revision of the honorarium. Munde said `no' to both the questions.``The committee, headed by a minister, has recommended an increase in the honorarium but the Government does not want to implement it. Why is the State Cabinet waiting for a decision from the Centre?'' Bhujbal asked.``The scheme is totally sponsored by the Central Government, which is expected to revised the honorarium. The State Cabinet has decided not to pay anyadditional money to the teachers till the Centre takes a final decision,'' Gholap told the House.
