Punjab & Haryana High Court Seeks Response On Suo Moto Action Over Alleged Non-Payment Of Honorarium To 50,000 Anganwadi Workers

The Punjab and Haryana High Court today sought a response from the Punjab Government on a suo motu action cognizance over the alleged non-payment of honorarium to nearly 50,000 Anganwadi workers for six months.

The Punjab Government submitted that there was an issue with respect to bank details; however, the honorarium has now been paid.

Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjiv Berry asked the State counsel to file the affidavit.

 As per newspaper report published on October 2, over 50,000 anganwadi workers and helpers working in nearly 27,000 centres across Punjab have not received their honorarium for the past six months. The workers get ₹11,000 per month, of which ₹4,500 is the honorarium component. This includes ₹3,000 from the Centre and ₹1,500 from the state government. However, since April, this amount has not been credited into their accounts, union leaders alleged.

Fed up with the delay, the childcare workers staged a massive protest outside the office of the Social Security Department in Chandigarh on Wednesday.

The matter is now listed for October 22.

Sr. DAG Salil Sablok appeared for the Punjab Government.

Title: COURT ON ITS OWN MOTION V/S STATE OF PUNJAB