NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court has affirmed that Anganwadi workers are entitled to pursue additional sources of income beyond their official duties.
Recognising the financial hardships faced by these workers, the court acknowledged that their current salaries are insufficient to support themselves or their families, making it reasonable for them to seek supplementary income.
This comes after the Division Bench, comprising Justices C. Hari Shankar and Sudhir Kumar Jain, delivered the ruling in favour of Parmila Devi, an Anganwadi worker who was denied age relaxation when applying for a Supervisor Grade-II (Female) position in the Department of Women and Child Development.
Devi, who had been supplementing her modest income through other employment, had her candidacy rejected by the Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board (DSSSB) on the grounds of being overage, despite her years of service qualifying her for age relaxation.
Devi’s initial appeal was heard by the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), which ruled in her favour. The tribunal found her service certificates legitimate and directed the DSSSB to reconsider her application and verify her documents.
However, dissatisfied with CAT’s decision, the DSSSB approached the High Court, which ultimately dismissed the petition and upheld the tribunal’s judgment.
“It is a well-known fact that the recompense received by Anganwadi Workers is a mere pittance and it is often impossible for an Anganwadi Worker to sustain herself and her family, on the amount received from such work. It is not unnatural, therefore, for Anganwadi Workers to also render service in the evenings after the Anganwadi work is over so that some additional income may be earned,” read the judgement.
Vrishali, an Anganwadi worker in Delhi, told this newspaper that they are not treated as permanent employees but only as “volunteers” and earn less than minimum-wage workers, leaving them struggling to make ends meet.
She said they get their appointment letter, which mentions ‘volunteer’ not as a permanent employee. “Even if we are allowed to take up additional work, we don’t have enough time. Our day starts at 9 a.m. and ends by 2 p.m., but the workload, including surveys, leaves us with little time for other jobs,” Vrishali explained after being told about the recent ruling allowing Anganwadi workers to take up additional work.
She further shared that many of them have resorted to stitching or teaching as side jobs to sustain their families, but the demands of their primary duties often leave them with no time to pursue such alternatives.