menu_open Columnists
We use cookies to provide some features and experiences in QOSHE

More information  .  Close

Unpaid backbone of Kashmir: The silent struggles of Anganwadi workers

15 1
13.03.2025
Srinagar Jammu and Kashmir: Underpaid, overworked, and unrecognized, thousands of Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) across Kashmir silently hold up the foundation of rural healthcare, child nutrition, and maternal welfare. Despite their indispensable role, these women earn a meager ₹5,100 per month, a sum that barely covers their survival, let alone their families' needs. "Stronger Anganwadi workers mean a stronger Kashmir. But the truth is, the work they do is far more than what they are paid for," says Mehmooda, Senior Anganwadi Worker. For decades, Anganwadi Workers have fought for fair wages, job security, and dignity, yet their demands continue to fall on deaf ears. Their struggles extend beyond financial hardship; they battle delayed salaries, excessive workloads, and lack of basic benefits like pensions and promotions. Many retire without any financial security, left to fend for themselves after dedicating their lives to public service. Established in 1975 under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) program, Anganwadi centers provide nutrition support, preschool education, maternal care, and immunization. These women track malnourished children, assist pregnant mothers, and even conduct government surveys yet they are treated as volunteers, not employees. "If we went on strike for just a week, the entire rural health system would collapse," continues Mehmooda, an Anganwadi worker with 20 years of service, "from surveys to health care, we do everything, like maintaining 13 registers on health and nutrition........

© The Express Tribune Blog