BENGALURU
Women and Child Development Minister Lakshmi Hebbalkar assured that the issue of extending gratuity benefits to all Anganwadi workers and helpers who have retired since 2011–12 will be resolved soon after discussions with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
The Minister gave this assurance during her visit to Freedom Park, where members of the Samyukta Sangharsh Samiti and the Karnataka State Anganwadi Workers and Helpers’ Associations are staging a protest demanding gratuity for all retirees since 2011–12.
Hebbalkar acknowledged that due to administrative lapses, gratuity had been implemented only from 2023, instead of being made applicable from 2011. “This delay was caused by the negligence of some officials. Discussions have already been held with the Finance Department three to four times, and the matter will soon be taken up with the Chief Minister for final approval,” she said.
The Minister also highlighted that Anganwadis in Karnataka have completed 50 years, and announced that a grand celebration will be held in Bengaluru on November 19 to commemorate the milestone. She invited all Anganwadi workers and helpers to participate and make the event a success.
Present on the occasion were Mahesh Babu, Director of the Women and Child Development Department; B.H. Nischal, Officer on Special Duty to the Minister; and union representatives including Shivashankar, B. Nagaratnamma, B. Amjad, M. Jayamma, K. Somashekar Yadagiri, and M. Umadevi, along with hundreds of protesting workers.
