NEW DELHI: Communist Party of India (Marxist) General Secretary Prakash Karat on Monday said the Government needed to show a lot of commitment and political will to implement the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS). While the scheme was a very good step, its implementation had been only half done.

He was addressing anganwadi workers and helpers who had been on a relay hunger strike at Jantar Mantar here since the past week demanding better remuneration and social security. Mr. Karat lauded the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government for keeping the ICDS in the national common minimum programme but pointed out that only half the country and one-third of the children were covered under the scheme. Stating that anganwadi workers, who implement the scheme and were agents of social change, were being paid less and sometimes do not get even the minimum wages, Mr. Karat said it was a matter for serious concern. He expressed the hope that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh would take up the issue.

The anganwadi workers from across the country, who have come together under the banner of All-India Federation of Anganwadi Workers and Helpers, have been demanding better remuneration than just Rs. 1,000 a month for workers and Rs. 500 for helpers. They are also demanding that they be recognised as Grade-III (for workers) and Grade-IV (for helpers) government employees and given social security benefits such as pension and provident fund.

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