Centre, not Odisha hiked remuneration of Anganwadi workers: Maneka Gandhi

Bhubaneswar: Union Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi today lambasted the BJD-led Odisha government saying that it has been grossly neglecting women of the State by not implementing central schemes.

Gandhi said that the Centre hiked the salary of Anganwadi workers but the State government claimed credit for the same.

She said that even as the Centre has made several provisions for the welfare and safety of women, Odisha government has intentionally deprived women of the benefits by neglecting the central government schemes.

The union minister said that while the Central government has released around Rs 70 crore to Odisha for benefit of pregnant woman under its Pradhan Mantri Matru Bandana Yojana, the State government has neglected it which is evident from the fact that only 7 women of the State have received financial assistance of Rs 6000 under the scheme.

This apart the Centre has made provisions under which women can directly communicate with the police in case of any violence and while eight states have implemented the new rule, Odisha government is yet to implement it, she added.

However, the BJD has refuted the allegations terming them baseless and misleading.

Presently, Anganwadi workers are getting Rs 7500 per month as incentives, 70 percent of which is borne by the State government, said party spokesperson Sasmit Patra.