Conceding the long pending demand of the Anganwari Workers, the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today allowed medical leave for one month along with pay as a welfare measure to them.A decision to this effect was taken by Mr. Badal during a meeting with the delegation of All Punjab Anganwari Mulazim Union led by its President Smt. Hargobind Kaur here at Chief Minister’s Residence this morning.It was informed in the meeting that earlier the Anganwari workers were only entitled for medical leave for 10 days and now they could avail medical leave for one month with pay.The Chief Minister also asked the Finance Department to immediately release second installment of Rs. 18 crore to the Social Security Department for the completion of nearly 800 unfinished buildings of Anganwari Centres so that they could be made functional at the earliest. It may be recalled that the state government had already released Rs.18 crore as first installment for the construction of these buildings. He also gave nod to start the construction of 68 new Anganwari Centres shortly with the funds of Rs.4 crore already released by the NABARD.
The Chief Minister also assured the delegation that he would soon take up the issue to reduce the work experience from 10 to three years for the promotion of Anganwari helper to Anganwari workers. Mr. Badal also asked the Social Security Minister to get the issue of transferring the eight Anganwari blocks jointly run by the Social Welfare Advisory Board and the Punjab Child Welfare Council thoroughly examined to streamline the functioning of Anganwari Centres in a result oriented manner.Mr. Badal also directed the Secretary, Social Security to immediately initiate the process for issuing appointment letters to nearly 20 candidates placed in the waiting list for the posts of Supervisors against vacant posts in the department. Pertinently to mention here, as many as 286 Anganwari workers were promoted to Supervisors after following the prescribed procedure during last year.Responding to another demand for appointing teachers amongst 50-60 Anganwari workers who have already cleared Teacher’s Eligibility Test (TET), the Chief Minister asked the Social Security Department to take up this issue with the Education Department for giving special relaxation in age in this regard.
Referring to another demand for reserving 10% posts of ANMs from amongst the Anganwari workers having with requisite qualifications in the State Health Department, Principal Secretary Health & Family Welfare informed the Chief Minister that after getting approval for the amended service rules in this regard from the departments of Personnel and Legal Remembrancer (LR) the matter would be sent to the Cabinet for its final clearance.Expressing gratitude to the Chief Minister for accepting their major demand, the delegation assured Mr. Badal that they would make all out efforts at the grass root level to make Anganwari as a mass movement to ensure overall development of women and children.Prominent amongst other who attended the meeting included Social Security & Health Minister Mr. Surjit Kumar Jyani, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. SK Sandhu, Principal Secretary Health & Family Welfare Ms. Vini Mahajan, Secretary Expenditure-cum-Social Security Mr. Jaspal Singh and Director, Social Security Mr. Gurkirat Kirpal Singh.