Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has promised to increase the honorarium of Anganwadi and Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) workers in Karnataka if the party is voted to power in the upcoming Assembly elections. Speaking at a public meeting in Belagavi district, she said that workers at major Anganwadis will receive a hike to Rs 15,000 per month, while those in mini Anganwadis will receive Rs 10,000. ASHA workers will see their honorarium increase to Rs 8,000 per month, and women working for the mid-day meal programme will receive Rs 5,000 per month.
In addition to these salary hikes, Vadra promised to provide financial assistance to retiring workers and their nominees in the event of their death due to an accident. Those working in major Anganwadis will receive Rs 3 lakh, while those in mini Anganwadis will receive Rs 2 lakh.
Vadra also criticised the current BJP government, accusing it of ruling the state poorly and earning the reputation of a “40 per cent commission government”. The Karnataka Assembly elections are scheduled to take place on May 10, with results expected to be declared on May 13.
The promises made by Vadra have been welcomed by Anganwadi and ASHA workers across Karnataka, who have long been demanding a hike in their salaries. These workers provide crucial services in rural and urban areas, such as health check-ups, immunisations, and nutrition support to pregnant women and children under the age of six.
Many of these workers are women from disadvantaged backgrounds who have to juggle their work with household responsibilities. A higher honorarium would not only provide them with financial stability but also recognise the valuable work they do for society.
However, some have raised concerns about the financial viability of these promises and questioned how the Congress party plans to fund them if it comes to power. Others have called for more comprehensive reforms in the healthcare and social welfare sectors, rather than just salary hikes for a select group of workers.
Overall, the promises made by Vadra have brought the issue of workers’ rights and welfare to the forefront of the election campaign in Karnataka and have ignited debates about the role of social welfare policies in the country’s economic development.