Agartala: The Tripura Anganwadi Workers and Helpers Union has issued a strongly worded statement hitting back at remarks made by the state’s Minister in charge of Social Welfare and Social Education, published in local newspapers and on social media on June 10, raising serious concerns over salary stagnation, delayed payments, gratuity deprivation, and the overall deteriorating condition of Anganwadi workers and helpers across the state.
The union pointed out that at least 20 to 21 states across India, excluding BJP-ruled Assam and Uttar Pradesh, pay higher salaries to Anganwadi workers and helpers than Tripura, where workers and helpers currently receive only 8,000 and 5,000 rupees per month respectively. The union noted that the minister’s categorical statement that salaries will not be increased further has caused deep disappointment and demoralisation among the workforce.
On the issue of regularisation, the union cited Supreme Court observations in the gratuity judgment and recent rulings by both the Single Bench and Division Bench of the Gujarat High Court, which ruled in favour of regularising Anganwadi workers, arguing that the minister’s reluctance to consider regularisation goes against the spirit of these judicial pronouncements.
The union expressed serious concern over the fact that as of June 12, many workers and helpers have not received salary payments from either the state or central government for months, despite similar assurances of resolution being given in April. The continued delay, the union said, has pushed workers into severe financial distress.
The statement also strongly objected to the minister’s attempt to portray reimbursements received by workers for children’s nutritional meals, mobile expenses, and programme costs as personal income, calling it a misrepresentation of the ground reality.
The union demanded immediate salary revision, prompt payment of pending dues, release of gratuity as directed by the High Court, and resumption of a transparent recruitment process at vacant Anganwadi centres, urging the government to address these issues with sensitivity and without political bias.