In Kashmir, government employees’ salaries vary significantly across departments. However, the most neglected individuals are those who perform essential work for social betterment despite receiving very low salaries. While some employees earn up to 80,000 rupees a month, hardworking Anganwadi workers are paid only 5,000 rupees a month. This discrepancy is unacceptable and highlights a significant injustice.
Anganwadi workers play a vital role in the education, health, and nutrition of children, particularly in underprivileged communities. They are responsible for child care, providing nutrition, and monitoring health. Government programs, such as the PMMVY (Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana), are driven by the hard work of these individuals. Their work is physically demanding and mentally stressful, with limited time for rest.
When an employee is tasked with excessive work but receives inadequate compensation, it can lead to several negative consequences:
1. Mental and Physical Exhaustion: Overwork combined with low wages can cause both physical and mental fatigue, impacting performance.
2. Increased Job Attrition: When workers feel their efforts are undervalued, they may seek better opportunities elsewhere.
3. Decreased Work Quality: Due to the pressure of fulfilling a high workload for low pay, workers might focus merely on completing tasks, leading to a drop in quality.
4. Mental Stress: The combination of insufficient pay and excessive workload can result in stress, affecting other aspects of the worker’s life.
Anganwadi workers have a wide range of responsibilities, including:
1. Children’s Education: They provide early education to children, teaching them basic skills like reading, counting, and recognizing colors.
2. Nutritional Support: They offer nutritional advice to children and pregnant women and provide dietary supplements to improve health.
3. Health Services: They ensure children receive vaccinations, monitor growth, and address other health concerns.
4. Guidance for Mothers: They offer health and nutritional advice to pregnant and breastfeeding women.
5. Community Awareness: They raise awareness about health, sanitation, and nutrition in the community to prevent health issues.
6. Pregnancy and Child Care: They monitor pregnant women and educate them on proper health practices during pregnancy.
The work of Anganwadi workers is extremely important for society, as they contribute to children’s education, health, and other welfare activities. However, their wages are shockingly low, considering the scope and importance of their work. Their role is physically exhausting, and they also take on additional responsibilities through various government schemes. Despite their significant contributions, their salaries do not reflect the scale or value of their work.
When Anganwadi workers are not compensated fairly, it reflects a broader societal failure in providing justice. Denying these hardworking individuals proper wages is a gross violation of social justice, diminishing the value of their work and its contribution to society.
Anganwadi workers are women; their low wages perpetuate social and economic inequalities. Undervaluing their labor and paying them insufficient wages is a clear form of gender discrimination. This not only negatively impacts their personal lives but also has a detrimental effect on the entire social structure.
Conclusion: Immediate attention must be given to the issues faced by Anganwadi workers to ensure they receive fair compensation for their efforts. This is crucial not only for their personal well-being but also for social justice, equality, and economic development.
Appeal: I appeal to the government, particularly to Agha Ruhullah Mehdi and Omar Abdullah, to take serious notice of the issues faced by Anganwadi workers. They deserve fair wages in proportion to their hard work so they can provide a better life for their families and receive recognition for their invaluable services. These workers are an essential pillar of our social structure, and it is necessary to fully acknowledge and appreciate their contributions.
