Karnataka Anganwadi Workers Union Demands Gratuity for Retirees Since 2011
Dharwad: The State Anganwadi Workers Helpers and Retired Workers Union has intensified its demand for the Karnataka government to provide gratuity to all anganwadi workers who have retired since 2011. NF Samudri, the union's secretary, made this urgent appeal during a press conference here, highlighting a prolonged agitation that began in 2020.
Supreme Court Ruling Ignored, Says Union Leader
Samudri emphasized that the Supreme Court has explicitly ruled that anganwadi workers and helpers who retired between 2011 and 2023 are entitled to gratuity under the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972. "We had hoped that the government would announce gratuity in this year's state budget, but no such announcement has been made," she told reporters, expressing deep disappointment.
She pointed out a critical disparity: while the state government has been providing gratuity to those who retired from 2023 onwards, it has neglected earlier retirees. "This is unfair and unjust to those who served diligently for decades," Samudri alleged, stressing that this selective implementation violates the court's directive.
Decades of Service with Minimal Compensation
Samudri detailed the extensive contributions of anganwadi workers, who have been operating under the women and child development department since 1975. Their roles have been pivotal in numerous government initiatives, including:
- Polio immunisation drives across the state
- Nutrition programs aimed at combating malnutrition
- Distribution of nutritious food to pregnant women and lactating mothers
Despite working for 30 to 35 years in these essential roles, these workers have received only a modest honorarium, leaving them financially vulnerable upon retirement.
Financial Hardship and Call for Immediate Action
The union leader painted a grim picture of the retirees' current circumstances. "Most retired workers are now elderly and living in difficult financial conditions without any economic support," she said. Many depend on others for basic needs, including hospital and medical expenses, due to the lack of post-retirement benefits.
Samudri urged the government to take immediate action by announcing gratuity for all retired workers. She issued a stern warning: if this demand is not met promptly, the union will launch an indefinite protest in front of deputy commissioners' offices across Karnataka. This escalation aims to pressure authorities into addressing what the union views as a long-overdue justice for dedicated public servants.
The demand underscores broader issues of welfare for grassroots health and childcare workers, whose efforts have been instrumental in public health campaigns but often go unrecognized in terms of financial security.
