Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI: The Assam State Anganwadi Workers and Helpers' Association has announced a protest march to Dispur on March 21, demanding budgetary allocation for the promised honourarium hike.
On March 10, Assam's Finance Minister, Ajanta Neog, presented the state budget for 2025-26, stating that the honorarium of Anganwadi workers and helpers, along with other contractual employees, would be increased from October 1, 2025. However, the budget did not specify any financial allocation for this increment, leaving contractual employees disappointed. While the budget speech included financial allocations for other welfare measures, it failed to allocate funds for the honourarium hike of scheme workers.
Following this, the association immediately submitted a memorandum to the departmental director on March 11, urging the government to allocate funds for the proposed increment. However, with no response or action taken so far, the workers have decided to march to Dispur on March 21.
Association leaders, including president Jayamati Das and general secretary Indira Newar, have called upon all Anganwadi workers and helpers to assemble at the Chachal protest site before 11 am on that day.
The demand for an honourarium hike is not new. Since 2021, the association has been staging peaceful protests and demonstrations. Between November 26, 2023, and March 17, 2024, workers observed multiple strikes. Additionally, from February 26 to March 17, 2024, a 21-day continuous sit-in protest was held at Chachal. Following this, the Department of Women and Child Development acknowledged their concerns and officially submitted a proposal to the Assam government recommending an honourarium increase.
On June 20, 2024, the association's leadership met with Minister Ajanta Neog, who assured them of considering the proposal. Later, on January 12, 2025, Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma formed a four-member cabinet subcommittee led by Finance Minister Ajanta Neog to assess the concerns of Anganwadi workers, ASHA workers, and midday meal cooks regarding their honorarium. The association submitted a memorandum to this sub-committee on February 18, 2025, including the previous proposal from the Women and Child Development Department and other urgent issues.
Despite all these efforts, the government's latest stance has left workers frustrated. The finance minister delivered an appealing budget speech, but no funds have been allocated yet.
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