Fri Jan 31 01:35:42 IST 2025: ## Delhi Anganwadi and ASHA Workers Protest Ahead of Elections

**New Delhi, January 31, 2025** – Anganwadi and ASHA workers in Delhi are staging protests demanding better pay and recognition as formal employees ahead of the February 5th Assembly elections. Despite playing a crucial role in healthcare, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, these women continue to receive meager salaries, far below the minimum wage for unskilled labor.

While the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Congress, and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have all promised monthly financial aid ranging from ₹2,100 to ₹2,500, workers dismiss these promises as insufficient and mere “lip service.” They emphasize their need for a decent salary, not charity.

Anganwadi workers currently earn an honorarium of ₹12,720 per month, while helpers receive ₹6,810. ASHAs earn a monthly stipend of ₹3,000 plus additional payments for completing specific tasks, totaling around ₹7,000-8,000. These amounts are significantly lower than the minimum wage of ₹18,066.

The ASHA Workers’ and Facilitators’ Federation of India has written to the Union Health Minister, requesting recognition as formal employees with statutory rights. Concerns remain about eligibility for AAP’s Mahila Samman Yojana, which excludes government employees, despite anganwadi workers working for the government but lacking official employee status.

Adding to their burden is the mandatory use of the Poshan Tracker mobile app for daily activity recording, which often experiences technical glitches. Workers highlight the increased workload over the past few years and the risks they face daily. The protests underscore the precarious situation of these essential workers and their determination to secure fair compensation and recognition for their critical contributions.

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