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All India Federation of Anganwadi Workers and Helpers issues the following Press Statement on Budget 2010-11
The Union Finance Minister Sri Pranab Mukherjee has increased the allocation for ICDS by a meager Rs.538 crores. This is grossly inadequate in view of the fact that today only around 42% of the children below 6 years of age are covered by ICDS and as per the directive of the Supreme Court, the scheme is to be universalised by 2012. The UPA government has assured the Supreme Court that it will universalise ICDS, ‘with quality’ by 2012. This budget shows the callous attitude of this government towards the most important programme for the overall development of the children below 6 years, who constitute more than 15% of our population.
In 11th Five Year Plan, the revised plan outlay for ICDS is Rs. 72, 877.52 crores. But including this fourth budget under the 11th Plan, the total budgetary allocations made by the government, till now is only Rs. 26,998 crores, which is nearly one third. This is highly condemnable. The decision to implement the World Bank proposed changes in ICDS will result in the dismantling of the ICDS.

This budget is shockingly insensitive to the plight of the anganwadi workers, who work far below than even half the minimum wages and helpers who work below than one third the minimum wages, in most parts of the country. No Allocation has been made either to increase the honorarium of the anganwadi workers and helpers or to provide them any social security. The Prime Minister had promised some social security and pension provisions to the anganwadi workers and helpers to a delegation of our Federation in 2006. Even after four years no measure is taken by the government in this regard.

The only mention of ICDS in the budget is limited “ICDS platform is being expanded for effective implementation of the Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Adolescent Girls” thus increasing the workload. The All India Federation of Anganwadi Workers and Helpers strongly condemns the negligent attitude of the Congress led UPA government in allotting adequate funds to the ICDS, particularly the anganwadi employees. We call upon all the anganwadi employees in the country to join in thousands in the ‘Mahapadav” in last week of April in Delhi for, social security benefits, increase in honorarium to minimum wages and regularisation.
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