Anganwadi Workers Seek Resolution on Gratuity and Payments in Jaipur

Jaipur. A delegation representing the Rajasthan Anganwadi Employees Federation, affiliated with the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, held a productive meeting with the director of the Women and Child Development Department, Vasudev Malawat, on Saturday. The discussion focused on resolving several long-standing grievances faced by Anganwadi workers across the state. The delegation included key representatives such as Harimohan Sharma, Bhola Nath Acharya, Pooja Choudhary, and others who presented a memorandum detailing the challenges encountered by field staff.

One of the primary concerns raised during the meeting was the persistent delay in honorarium payments. Director Malawat assured the delegation that the technical glitches causing these disruptions have been addressed, and payments have been processed across all districts. He further committed to streamlining the system within the next two months to ensure that honorariums from both state and central governments are disbursed simultaneously, as was the practice previously.

Regarding the long-awaited gratuity benefits, the department confirmed that the necessary clarifications requested by the Finance Department have been submitted. Officials expressed optimism that the formal orders for gratuity disbursement will be issued shortly. The delegation also pushed for the exemption of Anganwadi workers from non-ICDS duties. In response, the director agreed to issue directives to deputy directors in all districts, instructing them to coordinate with local administrations to ensure that workers are not diverted from their core responsibilities.

The meeting also addressed the simplification of retirement insurance claims, with an agreement to centralize the payment process at the headquarters level to reduce delays. Furthermore, the department promised to simplify the procedures for sanitary napkin distribution and face-capturing tasks, while also reviewing the implementation of increments for workers who have completed five and ten years of service.

The federation clarified to the department that it did not support recent strikes or the closure of centers, emphasizing that its members continued to operate their facilities and perform online duties throughout the period. Director Malawat acknowledged this commitment to service. This session marks the fourth formal dialogue between the federation and departmental officials since June 2026, reflecting an ongoing effort to resolve worker concerns through constructive engagement with the government.