Punjab Anganwari workers get 1 month medical leave with pay

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today allowed medical leave for one month along with pay as a welfare measure to Anganwari workers, conceding to their long pending demand.
A decision to this effect was taken by Badal during a meeting here with the delegation of All Punjab Anganwari Mulazim Union led by its President Hargobind Kaur.
It was informed in the meeting that earlier the Anganwari workers were only entitled for medical leave for 10 days and now they could avail medical leave for one month with pay, an official release said.
The Chief Minister also asked the Finance Department to immediately release second installment of Rs 18 crore to the Social Security Department for the completion of nearly 800 unfinished buildings of Anganwari Centres so that they could be made functional at the earliest.

The state government had already released Rs 18 crore as first installment for the construction of these buildings.
Badal also gave nod to start the construction of 68 new Anganwari centres shortly with the funds of Rs 4 crore already released by the NABARD.
The Chief Minister also assured the delegation that he would soon take up the issue to reduce the work experience from 10 to three years for the promotion of Anganwari helper to Anganwari workers.
Badal also asked the Social Security Minister to get the issue of transferring the eight Anganwari blocks jointly run by the Social Welfare Advisory Board and the Punjab Child Welfare Council thoroughly examined to streamline the functioning of Anganwari Centres in a result oriented manner.