Sitting amid the blackened remains of his home, 32-year-old Nikesh Gawali carefully broke open a half-melted plastic box with a screwdriver. His hands shook slightly, not out of fear, but out of hope. “I’m trying to find my daughter Aarti’s gold earrings,” he said quietly, still focused on the box. “She’s just five. I got them made recently after months of labour work.” The plastic box, warped and blackened by heat, was one of the few things left from his two-room house on the outskirts of Dhamangaon village . All around him lay ash, broken tin sheets and charred wooden beams. The walls had cracked under the heat and the front room’s tin roof had caved in completely. What remained was a blackened debris all around - almost nothing to suggest a home once stood there. Nikesh earns his living as an agricultural labourer, like many in the village. Work is uncertain and depends on the season. Those earrings weren’t just jewellery - they were a small dream, a reward for his hard work,...
The Integrated Child Development Services Scheme envisages the Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) and Anganwadi Helpers (AWHs) as “ honorary workers” from the local community who come forward to render their services, on part-time basis, in the area of child care and development, Government of India has been fully conscious of the significance of voluntary efforts put in by these honorary workers and, therefore, consistent efforts have been made to improve their working conditions by extending facilities / benefits from time to time.
The AWWs and AWHs are paid fixed honorarium per month as decided by the Government from time to time. Presently, AWWs are paid Honoraria of Rs. 3000/- per month w.e.f. 01-04-2011. The AWHs and AWWs of Mini- Anganwadi Centres are paid honoraria of Rs. 1500/- per month w.e.f. 01-04-2011. Recently, AWWs of Mini – AWCs are being paid honoraria of Rs. 2250/- w.e.f. 04-07-2013. Apart from these, additional amount of honoraria are also paid by most of the State Governments / UT Administrations from their own resources.
Since AWWs and AWHs are honorary workers, they cannot be declared as Govt. employees. In a ruling of 7.12.2006 in Civil Appeal No.4953-4957 of 1998 State of Karnataka & Ors. Vs.Ameerbi & Ors., the Hon’ble Supreme Court has also held that Anganwadi Workers and Anganwadi Helpers do not hold any civil post and Minimum Wages Act is also not applicable to them.
The AWWs and AWHs are paid fixed honorarium per month as decided by the Government from time to time. Presently, AWWs are paid Honoraria of Rs. 3000/- per month w.e.f. 01-04-2011. The AWHs and AWWs of Mini- Anganwadi Centres are paid honoraria of Rs. 1500/- per month w.e.f. 01-04-2011. Recently, AWWs of Mini – AWCs are being paid honoraria of Rs. 2250/- w.e.f. 04-07-2013. Apart from these, additional amount of honoraria are also paid by most of the State Governments / UT Administrations from their own resources.
Since AWWs and AWHs are honorary workers, they cannot be declared as Govt. employees. In a ruling of 7.12.2006 in Civil Appeal No.4953-4957 of 1998 State of Karnataka & Ors. Vs.Ameerbi & Ors., the Hon’ble Supreme Court has also held that Anganwadi Workers and Anganwadi Helpers do not hold any civil post and Minimum Wages Act is also not applicable to them.
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