From Our Political Correspondent
New Delhi: Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Smt. Sonia Gandhi today delivered a powerful address in the Rajya Sabha, spotlighting the dire conditions faced by women workers integral to India’s flagship government programs, including ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers and helpers, and community resource persons under the National Rural Livelihood Mission.
Speaking with urgency, Smt. Gandhi highlighted the paradox of these programs, designed to empower women, yet leaving the very workers who implement them overburdened and underpaid. “These women workers are the backbone of public service delivery, yet they are denied fair pay and basic social security,” she said, addressing the Chair.
Smt. Gandhi pointed out that ASHA workers, who drive critical initiatives like immunisation, maternal health, and family welfare, are classified as volunteers and receive a meager honorarium with minimal social protections. Similarly, Anganwadi workers earn a paltry Rs. 4,500 per month, with helpers receiving just Rs. 2,250 from the Union Government.
She also drew attention to systemic gaps, noting nearly three lakh vacancies in the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) that deprive millions of children and mothers of essential care. Compounding the issue, outdated 2011 census data has led to staffing levels that fail to meet current population needs.
Urging immediate action, Smt. Gandhi called on the government to collaborate with states to address these challenges through a five-point plan: filling all vacant posts, ensuring timely payment to workers, doubling the Union Government’s contribution to their salaries, appointing additional ASHA workers in villages with populations exceeding 2,500, and doubling Anganwadi staff to bolster early childhood education alongside existing health and nutrition efforts.
“Strengthening and supporting this workforce is an investment in India’s future,” she emphasized, concluding her impassioned plea for reform.
The address has sparked renewed debate on the need for better support for frontline women workers, with calls for the government to prioritize their welfare in policy planning.
