BUDGAM: Anganwadi workers and helpers here said that they are without honorarium for ten months “while the department of Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) has released it”.
The workers and helpers from various zones of the Beerwah tehsil here said that they have approached the concerned project officer of ICDS regarding this issue, “but our demands were not met”.
“Most of the workers and helpers are dependent upon this honorarium. If the honorarium of Anganwadi centres has been released in many districts and zones levels, why our honorarium has been not released yet,” they asked.
They added, “Most of the workers and helpers are facing health problems as they are unable to buy the medicines from the market. The department should take that into consideration.”
Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Budgam district, Mushtaq Ahmad told Kashmir Reader that they have received the money from the department, “but the honorarium of the Anganwadi centres goes to the Joint Account of the supervisor and Sarpanch, which is released directly to the workers and helpers”.
“In some places, there are no appointed Sarpanchs – which is the reason the honorarium have not released yet. We have written the letter to the government for appointment of the administrator in these places so the honorarium of the Anganwadi centres will be released,” he said, adding as I have already raised this issue with Deputy Commissioner Budgam.
Mission Director of ICDS department, Shabnam Shah Kamili said that they have already released the honorarium of the Anganwadi centres, but the honorarium goes directly into the Joint Account of the Supervisor and Sarpanch, who can release it.

ARIF RASHID