Centre agrees to fulfill most demands of Anganwadi, Akshara Dasoha and ASHA workers: Kumaraswamy

New Delhi: Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel, H D Kumaraswamy on Wednesday said that Union Minister for Women & Child Development Annapurna Devi and Union Minister for Education Dharmendra Pradhan have agreed to resolve most of the long-pending issues of Anganwadi, Akshara Dasoha, and ASHA workers.

Kumaraswamy, who invited a delegation representing Karnataka’s Anganwadi, Akshara Dasoha, and ASHA employees to Delhi and took them to Union Minister Annapurna Devi for discussion. Subsequently, the delegation also held a meeting with Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

After the Union ministers agreed to fulfill most of the demands, leaders representing Karnataka’s Anganwadi, Akshara Dasoha, and ASHA employees, who were staging protest in Karnataka, agreed to call of their protest, a statement from Kumaraswamy office said.

Key issues discussed with Union ministers included reforms in the FRS (Facial Recognition System) policy, exemption of Anganwadi workers from election duties, insurance coverage, and enhancement of honorarium for all categories of workers, among several others.

Union Minister Annapurna Devi assured that the matter regarding election duties would be taken up with the Election Commission, and steps would be initiated to reduce work pressure on all employees.

She further assured that demands falling within the jurisdiction of the Women & Child Development Ministry would be thoroughly examined and appropriate action would be taken. She expressed that the ministry is committed to addressing genuine concerns with empathy and responsibility, the statement said.

Separately, Kumaraswamy spoke to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over phone regarding demands related to the Education Department. The delegation also met Pradhan.

During the meeting, the representatives outlined their demands and difficulties. Pradhan assured them that Kumaraswamy had already discussed the matter with him, the statement said.