Sri Vijaya Puram, Nov. 9: The 1st State Conference of Andaman & Nicobar Anganwadi Workers & Helpers Union (CITU) was held on 8th November, 2025 at Port Blair. Inaugurating the Conference, B. Chandrachoodan, General Secretary, CITU A & N State Committee criticized the Modi government for going ahead with the privatization and outsourcing and handing over of the state assets to corporates. He said that the Anganwadi Workers and Helpers are not even treated as workers by the central government. He called upon the Anganwadi staff to remain united under the CITU Union to achieve various pending demands of the Anganwadi staff.
Addressing the Conference, D. Ayyappan, Vice President, CITU A & N State Committee said that scheme workers under the Modi government are put to sheer exploitation as these workers are being paid only a meagre amount as honorarium. He said that the ASHA Workers in A & N Islands are getting only Rs. 2,000 per month as honorarium while the Anganwadi Helper gets Rs. 8,000/- per month. He demanded minimum wages for the Anganwadi Workers & Helpers and ASHA Workers in the islands. He said that while the LDF government in Kerala is paying the highest amount of honorarium to ASHA Workers and Anganwadi staff besides retirement benefits, EPF, etc., these categories of workers in the BJP-ruled States and UTs are neglected in all aspects.
Geeta Devi, President of the Andaman & Nicobar Anganwadi Workers & Helpers Union made a brief presidential address. Vinita Kumari welcomed the leaders of CITU and participants in the State Conference. R. Anbukkarasi, General Secretary of the Union presented the report on the functioning of the Union for the last 2 ½ years. Fulcaria Dung Dung, Treasurer presented the audited accounts of the Union for the years 2023 and 2024. The General Secretary’s Report and Audited Accounts were passed by the Conference after discussion.
At the outset of the Conference, a condolence resolution paying homage to those Anganwadi staff and others who passed away during the last 2 ½ years was presented. About 100 Anganwadi Workers & Helpers from different parts of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands attended the State Conference. The Conference also elected Delegates for the 10th State Conference of CITU to be held on 20 – 21 December 2025.