NEW DELHI: The All-India Federation of Anganwadi Workers and Helpers said the Union budget proposals for 2006-07 were "highly disappointing".

In a statement on Wednesday, the Federation said the budget had "failed" to provide justice to more than 14-lakh anganwadi workers and helpers — key functionaries of the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) at the grassroots level.

They are made to work for more than six to seven hours a day, discharging various responsibilities related to health and education, but are paid only a meagre honorarium. The budget has no provision to increase their honorarium or improve their working condition, it said.

The increase in allocation for the ICDS is "meagre" compared to the amount required to universalise the scheme.

The Federation urged the Government to take immediate steps to universalise and institutionalise the ICDS and increase the honorarium of anganwadi workers and helpers to Rs 3,000 and Rs 2,000 respectively.

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