Anganwadi workers entitled to gratuity under Payment of Gratuity Act: Supreme Court

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The Supreme Court on 25/04/2022 held that Anganwadi workers and helpers are entitled to gratuity under the Payment of Gratuity Act of 1972 .

A Bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Ajay Rastogi ruled that the Payment of Gratuity Act will be applicable to Anganwadi centres, observing that time has to come to improve the working conditions of such workers.

"Time has come when the Central government/State governments has to collectively consider as to whether looking to the nature of work and exponential increase in the Anganwadi centers and to ensure quality in the delivery of services and community participation and ... find out modalities in providing better service conditions of the voiceless commensurate to the nature of job discharged by them." 

Justice Oka who authored the lead judgment said that Anganwadi workers are currently being paid very meagre remuneration and paltry benefits under an insurance scheme of the Central Government.

"It is high time that the Central government and State governments take serious note of the plight of Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) and Anganwadi Helpers (AWHs) who are expected to render such important services to the society," Justice Oka said in his judgment.