Agreeing to most of the demands of the Anganwaari Workers and Helpers Union, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Wednesday said he would take up the issue with the Government of India (GoI) for their early and favorable resolution.

Interacting with delegations of Anganwari workers and helpers, which called on him at Punjab Bhawan, the Chief Minister said that the State Government was sympathetic towards the demands of Anganwaari workers and every possible effort would be made to resolve all the pending issues.

Badal said that he would raise the matter of imparting health care facilities, insurance scheme, reducing the requisite experience for promotion from helper to worker and enhancing honorarium of the workers with the Union Government.

Badal added that he would soon raise these issues with the Union Minister Maneka Gandhi and ensure their prompt resolution.

The Chief Minister asked the Finance, Social Security and Health department to jointly work out modalities for effectively raising this issue with the Union Government.

Badal said that on its part the State Government has already decided to enhance honorarium of Anganwaari workers and Helpers to Rs 600 and Rs 300 respectively thereby raising it to Rs 5600 and Rs 2800 per month.

Acceding to demand made by delegation, the Chief Minister asked the Social Security department to explore the possibility of upgrading all the Mini Anganwaari centres to full fledged centres, provided they fulfill the stipulated criteria for it.

He also asked the department to explore the feasibility of transferring eight blocks of Anganwaari centres from preview of Advisory Board and Child Welfare Council to the state government.