Govt of India, state govts "fail" to redress pathetic condition of 60 lakh welfare workers

By Sheshu Babu*
While major contribution to implementation of social welfare schemes is through social volunteers and anganwadis, nurses, teachers, etc., their economic and social condition remains pathetic. Their problems have not been addressed either by governments or other welfare organizations for many years.
Indeed, social and economic progress depends upon providing basic services. The teachers, Anganwadi workers, nurses, panchayat secretaries or PWD employees are crucial for services like basic schooling, childcare and nutrition, health counseling, etc. Their need in rural areas is very much especially in helping poor and the needy. But they are grossly underpaid and even their services devalued by the government or public.
For instance, there are about 14 lakh anganwadi workers in the country providing health and nutrition services to over eight crore beneficiaries. Even though their services are significant, they are given 'honorary' payment. In most states, they are paid about Rs 5,000 per month which is lower than minimum wage prescribed for government employees. Even the salaries are delayed or paid irregularly.
A study of six states by Center for Equity Studies (2016) revealed that 35% of the workers did not receive their previous month's salaries, 50% felt that funds they received for running day-to-day activities of center were inadequate and 40% reported spending their own money to keep the center's activities going.
Similarly, though teachers are paid around Rs 50,000, the recruitment is low. Various governments do not fill vacancies and they resort to some form of contract or part-time teachers, whose payment is at places as low as Rs 3,700. In Gujarat, a case filed showed that some teachers have not even paid minimum wages. Despite a Gujarat High Court order, the grim situation continues. The Supreme Court has not delivered final verdict for four years.

In Madhya Pradesh, a nurse staff at the Nutrition Rehabilitation was paid Rs 10,000, though the work included night shifts. Information on such incidents is not in the public domain.

Pathetic conditions

The workers face innumerable obstacles. The pathetic condition of the workers reflects in their daily struggles. Their grievances are never addressed and they have to pacify bureaucrats as well as public in times of crises. The training is often poor and there is no accountability. Their constant reporting to higher-ups creates tensions and constant hostility. Lack of training leads to inefficient performance.
Though the website of the ministry of women and child development provides for insurance and maternity leave benefits, none of the provisions have been implemented. The workers are also over-burdened with other jobs like election duty and survey fr government departments.
The future of these 'marginalised' workers seems to be grim. There was not much to cheer about in budget of February 2018. They are part of the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) programme which is the world's largest.
The All-India Federation of Anganwadi Workers and Helpers (AIFAWH) has expressed its unhappiness against the present government and organized strikes for increase in wages and working condition last year. Over 60 lakh scheme workers including anganwadi workers and helpers voiced their strong disappointment with meagre allocation of finance.
Their struggle for better living condition is still continuing and government has not done much to redress their grievances. As their work is of prime importance, they should be provided with adequate financial facilities and social assistance.
---
*Writer from everywhere and anywhere is interested in social justice

Comments

Grueling summer ahead: Cuttack’s alarming health trends and what they mean for Odisha

By Sudhansu R Das The preparation to face the summer should begin early in Odisha. People in the state endure long, grueling summer months starting from mid-February and extending until the end of October. This prolonged heat adversely affects productivity, causes deaths and diseases, and impacts agriculture, tourism and the unorganized sector. The social, economic and cultural life of the state remains severely disrupted during the peak heat months.

Stronger India–Russia partnership highlights a missed energy breakthrough

By N.S. Venkataraman* The recent visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to India was widely publicized across several countries and has attracted significant global attention. The warmth with which Mr. Putin was received by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was particularly noted, prompting policy planners worldwide to examine the implications of this cordial relationship for the global economy and political climate. India–Russia relations have stood on a strong foundation for decades and have consistently withstood geopolitical shifts. This is in marked contrast to India’s ties with the United States, which have experienced fluctuations under different U.S. administrations.

From natural farming to fair prices: Young entrepreneurs show a new path

By Bharat Dogra There have been frequent debates on agro-business companies not showing adequate concern for the livelihoods of small farmers. Farmers’ unions have often protested—generally with good reason—that while they do not receive fair returns despite high risks and hard work, corporate interests that merely process the crops produced by farmers earn disproportionately high profits. Hence, there is a growing demand for alternative models of agro-business development that demonstrate genuine commitment to protecting farmer livelihoods.

The Vande Mataram debate and the politics of manufactured controversy

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* The recent Vande Mataram debate in Parliament was never meant to foster genuine dialogue. Each political party spoke past the other, addressing its own constituency, ensuring that clips went viral rather than contributing to meaningful deliberation. The objective was clear: to construct a Hindutva narrative ahead of the Bengal elections. Predictably, the Lok Sabha will likely expunge the opposition’s “controversial” remarks while retaining blatant inaccuracies voiced by ministers and ruling-party members. The BJP has mastered the art of inserting distortions into parliamentary records to provide them with a veneer of historical legitimacy.

A comrade in culture and controversy: Yao Wenyuan’s revolutionary legacy

By Harsh Thakor* This year marks two important anniversaries in Chinese revolutionary history—the 20th death anniversary of Yao Wenyuan, and the 50th anniversary of his seminal essay "On the Social Basis of the Lin Biao Anti-Party Clique". These milestones invite reflection on the man whose pen ignited the first sparks of the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution and whose sharp ideological interventions left an indelible imprint on the political and cultural landscape of socialist China.

The cost of being Indian: How inequality and market logic redefine rights

By Vikas Gupta We, the people of India, are engaged in a daily tryst—read: struggle—for basic human rights. For the seemingly well-to-do, the wish list includes constant water supply, clean air, safe roads, punctual public transportation, and crime-free neighbourhoods. For those further down the ladder, the struggle is starker: food that fills the stomach, water that doesn’t sicken, medicines that don’t kill, houses that don’t flood, habitats at safe distances from polluted streams or garbage piles, and exploitation-free environments in the public institutions they are compelled to navigate.

Why India must urgently strengthen its policies for an ageing population

By Bharat Dogra A quiet but far-reaching demographic transformation is reshaping much of the world. As life expectancy rises and birth rates fall, societies are witnessing a rapid increase in the proportion of older people. This shift has profound implications for public policy, and the need to strengthen frameworks for healthy and secure ageing has never been more urgent. India is among the countries where these pressures will intensify most sharply in the coming decades.

Thota Sitaramaiah: An internal pillar of an underground organisation

By Harsh Thakor* Thota Sitaramaiah was regarded within his circles as an example of the many individuals whose work in various underground movements remained largely unknown to the wider public. While some leaders become visible through organisational roles or media attention, many others contribute quietly, without public recognition. Sitaramaiah was considered one such figure. He passed away on December 8, 2025, at the age of 65.

Proposals for Babri Masjid, Ram Temple spark fears of polarisation before West Bengal polls

By A Representative A political debate has emerged in West Bengal following recent announcements about plans for new religious structures in Murshidabad district, including a proposed mosque to be named Babri Masjid and a separate announcement by a BJP leader regarding the construction of a Ram temple in another location within Behrampur.

Search This Blog