Mysuru: Anganwadi workers (AWWs), who earn a modest honorarium of Rs 10,000 per month and work seven hours daily from 9 am, are now burdened with two additional responsibilities. Their services are being utilized for non-Integrated Child Development Services Scheme (ICDS) tasks, including verifying the status of Gruha Lakshmi beneficiaries and serving in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR).
New Responsibilities for Anganwadi Workers
According to sources within the state Women and Child Development Department, AWWs have been instructed to verify the living status of Gruha Lakshmi beneficiaries as part of an ongoing review. Based on their reports, the names of deceased women are being removed from the database. Starting July, they are also being deployed as booth-level officers (BLOs) during the SIR.
K Somashekar Yadgir, state president of the Karnataka State United Anganwadi Workers Association (affiliated with AIUTUC), stated, “In a few districts, the Anganwadi workers are asked to submit the status of the Gruha Lakshmi beneficiaries.” An officer from the department confirmed that supervisors, along with AWWs, are also being used to verify beneficiary status.
Impact on Core Duties
M Umadevi, the association’s secretary, highlighted that workers are now being asked to join the SIR. “This is the admission time in Anganwadis. We are here to help children, newborns, lactating mothers, and pregnant women. We have the responsibility of looking after our children in centres besides ensuring all the beneficiaries will get nutritious food, vaccines, and health advisories on time,” she said. She questioned, “If we cite our works get disrupted for months together due to SIR, we are asked to work after the Anganavadi timings till late in the evening. Is it possible to carry out duty post sunset in villages for women?”
Official Response
Officials from the department said the decisions were taken by senior officials in accordance with Election Commission (EC) directions. “Only the government can intervene and help these workers. As per the government rule, the Anganavadi workers can’t be hired for non-ICDS-related works,” an official explained.
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