A key finance committee in parliament has criticised the government for underpaying Anganwadi workers and helpers and urged the government to increase their wages appropriately.

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC), the Lok Sabha finance panel, also ordered the government to immediately provide amenities such as drinking water and toilets in Anganwadis.

The Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) has been ordered to appropriately revise and raise the wages of Anganwadi workers and helpers in a report to Parliament on Wednesday.

It expressed disappointment at the lack of action by the government, despite earlier reminders that Anganwadi workers and helpers are poorly paid.

The committee noted many vacancies for Anganwadi workers and helpers as their wages were low.

“The critical role played by these Anganwadi workers and helpers during Covid cannot be overlooked as they are tasked with distributing rations and performing their primary duties in primary care and immunisation, nutritional supplementation, educating families on family planning measures, etc.” The Commission, therefore, believes that it is high time that Anganwadi staff are given due recognition for the selfless and continuous service they have been providing,” it said in its comments.

In this regard, a group led by Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury in Congress has asked the government to revise their pay so that the benefits and salaries paid to them should be commensurate with their work. The group said the ministry should also seek the necessary budgetary support for this.

The panel also recommended that the government develop a plan to provide portable toilets where they are lacking in Anganwadi centres, as many of these establishments operate in makeshift structures and semi-pucca premises that may not have toilets or potable water facilities.