Sonia Gandhi seeks timely pay, hikes for ASHA, Anganwadi workers

New Delhi: Congress leader Sonia Gandhi flagged the challenges faced by ASHA and Anganwadi workers in the Rajya Sabha, demanding that they be given their remuneration on time, the amount given be doubled and the pending vacancies of nearly three lakh in ICDS be filled.

Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Gandhi said, "I rise to draw the urgent attention of this House to the continued distress of women workers implementing critical government programmes -- ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers and helpers, and the community resource persons under the National Rural Livelihood Mission."

She underlined that these women workers were "overburdened and underpaid".


"Across the country, ASHA workers undertake immunisation, mobilisation, maternal health, and family welfare. Yet, they remain volunteers with low honorarium and limited social security. Anganwadi workers are paid a meagre base honorarium of Rs 4,500 and Rs 2,250 per month by the Union government," she said.

Gandhi maintained that there were nearly three lakh vacancies in the ICDS at various levels.