06/08/2025
*All India Federation of Anganwadi Workers and Helpers* (AIFAWH)
*AIFAWH Delegation Meets Smt. Annpurna Devi, Minister for WCD*
*Demanded Wage Increase, Gratuity and pension; Withdrawal of mandatory FRS*
*Minister assured remedy to issues related to mandatory FRS; Government Will implement SC order on Gratuity and consider increase in wages*
*AIFAWH will observe Black Day on 21 August 2025 against FRS**
*A delegation of All India Federation of Anganwadi Workers and Helpers (AIFAWH) consisting of A R Sindhu, General Secretary, Anju Maini, Treasurer, Urmila Rawat, Secretary and Amritpal Kaur, WC member along with Dr. John Brittas, MP, met Smt. Annpurna Devi, Minister for Women and Child Development, Government of India at Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi.** Shri Gyanesh Bharti, Addtl Secretary, WCD, was present.
The Minister gave a patient hearing about all the issues raised by AIFAWH delegation in the meeting, which lasted for around 45 minutes. The delegation placed in detail all the basic issues as well as the immediate issues of FRS, etc.(Memorandum is being attached). Dr. John Brittas also advocated for the basic demands of increase in wages, social security, gratuity, and pension. The meeting lasted for around 45 minutes.
AIFAWH delegation demanded doubling the remuneration before 2 October 2025 when the ICDS complete 50 years- as per the recommendation of the Parliamentary Committee. AIFAWH also pointed our about the annual increment as well as service weightage for the wages. Anganwadi helpers are only getting half the wage of workers in most of the states, and the proportion must be increased we have pointed out. Gujarat High court has ordered regularisation of anganwadi workers and helpers, we have demanded that the government shall not oppose the order in court. AIFAWH also demanded that by next budget Minimum wages of Rs.26000 and pension Rs.10000 per month must be implemented.
We have raised the issues of gratuity as per the SC order and ESI, PF etc.
Issue of Non ICDS additional works including the BLO duty shall be withdrawn, the delegation demanded. Uniform service rules removing restrictions for promotion of workers and helpers etc. was raised.
In a detailed discussion, all issues related to FRS were placed before the Minister. *A separate memorandum and all details of issues regarding mobile, data, problems of App etc. wand position in various states was also submitted. The delegation very strongly pointed out about the harassment of anganwadi workers with examples of deaths of anganwadi workers due to stress related issues and demanded the mandatory FRS must be withdrawn It was also pointed out that many eligible beneficiaries are denied services from the anganwadis as per the Central Government directive. Issues of various states were also raised in the meeting.
*The Minister assured that the government will take measures to implement the Supreme Court order on Gratuity. The government may consider the demand of increase in remuneration. All anomalies related to promotion etc. will be sorted out at the earliest. Minister also assured that a meeting with all Trade Unions Federations of Anganwadi Workers and Helpers affiliated to CTUs will be called soon.*
*The minister assured that the problems in FRS will be solved in cases of difficulty in implementation due to various issues*.
The delegation suggested advancing of the date of implementation immediately and having a tripartite meeting, including representatives of state governments and representatives of all anganwadi federations.
AIFAWH, thank Comrade John Brittas M P, CPI(M) for facilitating the meeting with the minister. *AIFAWH calls upon the anganwadi workers and helpers of the country to intensify the struggles against FRS, Poshan Tracker, and for regularisation of anganwadi workershelpers.*
*AIFAWH will observe Black Day on 21 August against mandatory FRS throughout the country.*
Issued by
A R Sindhu
General Secretary
AIFAWH Demands
1. Double the wages of Anganwadi workers and helpers before 2 October 2025 as per the recommendations of the Parliamentary Committee to mark the golden jubilee of ICDS.
2. Immediately release the pending central share for Anganwadi Services to the states
3. Regularise anganwadi workers and helpers as grade III and Grade IV government employees as per Gujarat High Court Order. Pending regularization, implement 45th ILC recommendation – Minimum wages Rs.26000 per month, Pension Rs.10000 per month, PF, ESI etc. by the next central budget.
4. Apply Uniform service conditions for anganwadi workers and helpers throughout the country.
5. Immediately implement the Supreme Court order on gratuity to Anganwadi Workers and Helpers
6. Enact a legislation to ensure Right to Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) for children under six and Right to maternity benefit for all women with anganwadi centres as nodal agencies. Withdraw NEP. No linking of ECCE to formal education system.
7. Institutionalise ICDS (Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0) under ECCE law as anganwadi cm creches taking care of local needs with proper infrastructure and necessary human resource
8. Immediately Withdraw the mandatory FRS. Before implementation of digitalisation of the anganwadi reporting system, provide computer/laptop/tab in all anganwadi centres; pending this provide good quality mobile phones with 4G/5G connection and Free Wi-Fi connection should be provided in the anganwadi centres; Provide quality supplementary nutrition to all beneficiaries irrespective of Aadhar verification or face recognition as per the SC order
9. Immediately hold tripartite meeting with all anganwadi federations to discuss the issues related to the POSHAN Tracker App including manipulation of data.
10. Withdraw all measurers weakening the ICDS like direct cash transfer to the beneficiaries, mandatory linking of Aadhar for benefits of schemes, targeting and surveillance in the name of digitization of schemes, privatization by introduction of centralized kitchen etc.
