Sonia Gandhi Highlights Urgent Need to Address Underpaid Women Frontline Workers in Critical Government Programs

Sonia Gandhi highlighted the staffing shortages affecting service delivery.

New Delhi:

Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday raised concerns in the Rajya Sabha regarding the ongoing distress experienced by women workers implementing essential government programs, including ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers and helpers, and community resource persons under the National Rural Livelihood Mission.

Addressing the Rajya Sabha, Gandhi stated, "I rise to draw the urgent attention of this House to the continued distress of women workers implementing critical government programs--ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers and helpers, and community resource persons under the National Rural Livelihood Mission."

"These initiatives are intended as pathways to women's empowerment. However, despite their vital contribution to public service delivery, these women workers are overburdened and underpaid," Gandhi emphasized.

Discussing the responsibilities of ASHA workers, Gandhi added, "Across the country, ASHA workers undertake immunisation, mobilisation, maternal health, and family welfare, yet they remain volunteers with low honorarium and limited social security. Anganwadi workers, similarly, are paid a meagre honorarium of Rs. 4,500 and Rs. 2,250 per month by the Union Government."

Gandhi further highlighted the staffing shortages affecting service delivery, noting, "Beyond low pay, there are currently nearly three lakh vacancies in the ICDS at various levels. These gaps leave lakhs and lakhs of children and mothers without essential services. Even when filled, these posts fall short of population norms due to the lack of updated census figures since 2011."

The Congress leader urged the Government to prioritize measures in collaboration with the States, including filling all existing vacancies, ensuring timely remuneration to all workers, doubling the Union Government's contribution to the pay of these frontline workers, appointing an additional ASHA worker in villages with a population greater than 2,500, and doubling the number of Anganwadi workers to enable early childhood education in addition to existing nutrition and health initiatives.

"Strengthening, expanding, and supporting this workforce is an investment in India's future," Gandhi emphasized.

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman introduced the Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha (Amendment of Insurance Laws) Bill, 2025, proposing amendments to the Insurance Act, 1938, the Life Insurance Corporation Act, 1956 and the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority Act, 1999.