Salary hike of Anganwadi workers in Odisha likely soon!

Deputy Chief Minister of Odisha Pravati Parida, who also oversees the Women and Child Development Ministry, has put forward a proposal to the central government, seeking an increase in salaries for Anganwadi workers in the State. This move was highlighted during a legislative workshop in Udaipur, Rajasthan. 

“We had promised in our manifesto to raise the pay for Anganwadi workers. The Ministry of Women and Child Development is currently considering this proposal,” said Deputy CM Parida.

Parida’s remark came after she attended the ‘Chintan Shibira’ (legislative workshop) during her five-day long visit to Rajasthan from January 10-15. However, it is yet to be clear when the salary of the Anganwadi workers will be increased.

Additionally, Parida has also called for the establishment of hostel facilities for working women, recognising the pressing need for better support infrastructure.

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As many as 1.4 lakh Anganwadi workers of around 74,000 Anganwadi centres across the State will be benefitted with the proposed move. They had staged protests over the demand for a long time during the tenure of the previous government. Though they have been given assurances over their demand many times, nothing has materialized so far.

“We are so happy that the Odisha government has put forward a proposal for the increase in the salary of Anganwadi workers before the Centre. We have helped the government in the successful implementation of many projects. We are thankful before the government that they have understood our problems and taken steps for an increase in our salary. The previous government had only given us false assurances. The new move by the current government will motivate our workers to do more good work,” said All Odisha Anganwadi Workers’ Association President Suneeta Mohapatra.