“In a big bonanza to the Anganwadi Workers and Helpers, the Punjab Government under the leadership and directions of the Chief Minister, Captain Amarinder Singh has decided to increase the monthly honorarium of anganwadi workers and the helpers by Rs. 1000 and Rs. 500 respectively. It has also been decided to provide financial assistance of Rs. 1 lakh and Rs. 50,000 in lumsum manner at the time of the completion of their tenures at their attaining the age of 70 years.” This decision was announced by the Social Security and Women & Child Development Minister, Punjab, Mrs. Aruna Chaudhary here today at the Punjab Civil Secretariat after a meeting with the representatives of the all 3 unions of anganwadi workers and helpers in the presence of the Political Secretary to the Chief Minister- Captain Sandeep Sandhu and the Director of the Social Security, Women and Child Development Department, Punjab, Mrs. Kavita Singh. The representatives of the unions expressed happiness over these decisions.Mrs. Chaudhary further said that these measures have been taken in in accordance with the directions of the Chief Minister. Thanking the Chief Minister and the Finance Minister, Mrs. Chaudhary said that these decisions would result in big financial gain for the anganwadi workers and the helpers. She further disclosed that the monthly honorarium of the anganwadi workers has been increased from Rs. 5600 to Rs. 6600 and that of the helpers from Rs. 2800 to Rs. 3300.
This increase would be effective from the next financial year which is why the anganwadi workers and the helpers would get the increased honorarium from the 1st of April, 2019. This decision of the Punjab Government would lead to a total financial benefit of Rs. 45 crore annually accruing to the workers as well as the helpers.Mrs. Chaudhary further divulged that due to the anganwadi workers and the helpers working as volunteers on honorarium, they were not getting any financial benefit at the time of completing their tenure of service. But, now the State Government in a far reaching decision has decided to give Rs. 1 lakh and Rs. 50000 in lumsum to the anganwadi workers and the helpers respectively at the time of their completing the service tenures for which the age limit would be 70 years.The minister also added that the unions have been assured of the acceptance of their other just demands. About the pre-primary classes Mrs. Chaudhary said that it has been decided to implement in letter and spirit the joint memorandum released last year in November by the Education and the Social Security Department. The minister also elaborated that similarly, the infrastructural and the administrative demands would be redressed by the department at its own level.