They decry age limit increase without benefits
PANAJI
Goa offers the second-highest remuneration for Anganwadi workers and helpers in India, trailing only Tamil Nadu. In the latest move, the State government extended the retirement age from 60 to 62 years but it has not alleviated their concerns as majority of them are against this raise.
Despite the relatively higher pay, Anganwadi workers in Goa face a high cost of living that exceeds their earnings. They have reported delays in payments stretching into months, no promotion and feel their demands for a structured salary scale are being ignored. Adding to their woes is the order increasing the age limit, for it has raised the risk of losing benefits if these workers wish to retire early.
Reliable government sources revealed to The Goan that many, facing health issues, find it challenging to continue their physically demanding roles into their late 50s or 60s. “We don’t want an extension in service without proper remuneration. Our demand for a structured salary scale has been ignored repeatedly, and marginal hikes are granted just to show that the government is concerned about us,” lamented one of the Anganwadi workers.
Goa has around 1,237 Anganwadi workers and 1,149 helpers. While the workers earn between Rs 10,500 and Rs 18,000 per month, depending on their years of service; helpers receive around Rs 7,000 to Rs 7,500.
“Although the remuneration is higher compared to other states, the high cost of living in Goa makes it insufficient. We are not seated in the centres taking care of children but have extensive responsibilities including primary health check-ups, immunizations, supplementary nutrition, educating women about family planning, health, and well-being, etc,” said a worker.
With the hike in the retirement age and no Voluntary Retirement Scheme, their worries have doubled. “If we want to quit even on medical grounds, we will lose government benefits. We receive around Rs 5 lakh in benefits upon retirement, but only if we retire at the prescribed age… retiring early means losing these benefits,” said another.
“We are not gaining anything substantial… instead working under stress to avoid losing what little we have through this job,” she added while slamming the government for not offering them even a PF facility.
Counsel for the Anganwadi workers, Hrudaynath Shirodkar, confirmed the prevailing issues alleging that the government has ignored their demands. “The last salary hike was in 2022, after protests by the Anganwadi workers and helpers. The demand for a structured salary scale remains unfulfilled,” he told The Goan.
Outgoing Director for Women & Child Development Sangeeta Porob remained unavailable for comment.
