In a landmark decision, the Gujarat High Court has ruled in favor of enhancing the employment status of anganwadi workers (AWWs) and helpers (AWHs), directing the state and central governments to treat them on par with regular permanent civil service employees. The verdict was passed on October 30 and aims to rectify the long-standing disparity in compensation and benefits between anganwadi staff and other government employees.
Justice Nikhil S Kariel’s court issued the judgment following a series of petitions by AWWs and AWHs who have been serving under the central government’s Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme. These workers are primarily responsible for running anganwadi centers that support children under six, along with pregnant women and lactating mothers.
The petitioners, who were appointed between 1983 and 2010, argued that despite fulfilling their duties for over a decade, often exceeding six hours a day, they were merely compensated with an honorarium far below the wages of state employees. They claimed this constituted unfair treatment, as they were recruited through a regular process but were not recognized as government servants.
Highlighting the stark contrast in duties and remuneration, the court noted that anganwadi workers and helpers receive monthly honorariums of Rs 10,000 and Rs 5,000, respectively, which pales in comparison to the salaries of other civil posts. “The state government has relegated the AWWs and AWHs to even below the category of a temporary Class-IV employee, who is entitled to a minimum pay scale of Rs 15,000,” stated the judgment.*
As a part of its ruling, the High Court has mandated the state and Union governments to formulate a policy within six months for the absorption of AWWs and AWHs into government service, which includes regularisation and the allotment of benefits akin to those enjoyed by permanent civil servants. The policy is expected to specify the pay scale, class absorption, and arrears eligibility, ensuring that anganwadi workers and helpers are no longer marginalized in terms of their compensation and benefits.
