Context:
ASHA and Anganwadi workers are protesting against frozen wages, lack of employee status, and denial of statutory benefits, raising concerns about social justice and governance accountability.
Key Highlights:
- Nature of the Issue
- Demand for ₹15,000 per month wage in West Bengal.
- Classified as “honorary workers”, not regular government employees.
- Central contribution to remuneration frozen since 2018.
- Historical & Legal Background
- Under ICDS, workers were denied ‘employee’ status.
- State of Karnataka vs Ameerbi (1996): Supreme Court held Anganwadi workers are not government employees.
- 45th Labour Conference recommended:
- Regularization
- Minimum wages
- Pension benefits
(Not implemented)
- Fiscal & Governance Issues
- Central freeze exposed workers to fiscal vulnerability.
- States have varying capacity to supplement wages.
- Leads to inter-State disparities in pay and benefits.
- Policy Demand
- Recognition as statutory employees under the Code on Social Security, 2020.
- Bridging fiscal gaps between Centre and States.
- Ensuring dignity of labour and social security.
Relevant Prelims Points:
- ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist):
- Community health worker under National Health Mission (NHM).
- Anganwadi Workers:
- Operate under ICDS (1975).
- ICDS Components:
- Supplementary nutrition
- Immunization
- Health check-ups
- Preschool education
- Code on Social Security, 2020:
- Consolidates 9 labour laws.
- Extends social security to organized and unorganized workers.
- Distinction between honorarium-based engagement and statutory employment.
Relevant Mains Points:
- Social Justice Dimension:
- Frontline workers delivering welfare lack basic labour protections.
- Gendered Labour Issue:
- Majority are women → intersection of gender and informal labour exploitation.
- Governance Paradox:
- Backbone of public health (e.g., vaccination, maternal health) yet denied rights.
- Fiscal Federalism Challenge:
- Shared responsibility but uneven burden.
- Ethical Governance:
- Violates principles of dignity, fairness, and distributive justice.
- Public Health Sustainability:
- Worker dissatisfaction may weaken health outcomes.
- Way Forward
- Grant statutory recognition under Social Security Code.
- Establish national minimum honorarium linked to inflation.
- Provide pension and insurance coverage.
- Institutionalize Centre-State cost-sharing formula.
- Recognize them as essential public service providers.
UPSC Relevance:
- GS 2: Governance & Social Justice
- GS 3: Labour Reforms & Informal Economy
- Ethics: Dignity of Labour and State Responsibility
- Prelims: ICDS, NHM, Social Security Code.