Archive · 17 Dec 2025
Congress Leaders Demand Better Pay for ASHA, Anganwadi Workers
Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra spoke about the problems faced by ASHA and Anganwadi workers.
These women workers do important jobs like helping with vaccinations, taking care of children, and providing education.
But they are paid very little and don't have good job security.
There are also many empty jobs in their programs, which means not enough help is reaching the people who need it.
The Congress leaders suggested some solutions, like filling the empty jobs, paying workers more, and adding more workers in bigger villages.
They also said taking care of these workers is important for the future of India's health and education.
Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra highlighted the distress of ASHA and Anganwadi workers in the Rajya Sabha and a letter to PM.
Workers are underpaid, overburdened, and lack social security despite their crucial roles in health and education services.
Anganwadi workers earn Rs 4,500 monthly, helpers earn Rs 2,250, with variable state supplements.
Nearly 3,00,000 vacancies in ICDS levels are causing service gaps for children and mothers.
Gandhi proposed measures like filling vacancies, doubling honoraria, and expanding staffing, while Priyanka demanded recognition as government employees and pension benefits.
- Who
- Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers, and helpers
- What
- Issues of underpayment, undervaluation, and staffing shortages among frontline women workers
- When
- Highlighted during Zero Hour in Rajya Sabha on Tuesday and in a letter to PM
- Where
- New Delhi, India and Wayanad, Kerala
- Why
- To address the distress and demand urgent reforms for these workers
Congress Party
Government (implied)
Worker Classification
Congress Party
Workers should be recognized as government employees, not volunteers.
Government (implied)
No explicit stance mentioned in the articles.
Honorarium Increase
Congress Party
Honorarium should be doubled and workers should receive pension benefits.
Government (implied)
No explicit stance mentioned in the articles.
- Workers Involved
- ASHA, Anganwadi workers, and helpers
- Monthly Honorarium
- Rs 4,500 for Anganwadi workers, Rs 2,250 for helpers
- Vacancies
- Nearly 3,00,000 across ICDS levels
- Population Data
- Staffing norms based on 2011 census
- Proposed Measures
- Filling vacancies, timely remuneration, doubling honoraria, appointing more ASHA workers, expanding Anganwadi staffing
- Additional Demands
- Recognition as government employees, pension benefits, paid leave for serious illnesses, provision of quality mobile phones
Sources
'Work for pittance to run key govt schemes': Sonia Gandhi raises issues of ASHA, Anganwadi workers in RS
Sonia Gandhi asks Centre to double contribution to compensation of ASHA and Anganwadi workers: ‘They are overburdened and underpaid’
Increase honorarium of Anganwadi workers, ASHAs in India: Priyanka Gandhi to PM
Priyanka Gandhi Urges PM to Raise Honorarium for Anganwadi, ASHA Workers