Maharashtra government discusses demands of Anganwadi workers and helpers, including gratuity, pension, retirement age and promotion
Mumbai, October 2026: Women and Child Development Minister Aditi Tatkare on Monday said the Maharashtra government was positively considering measures related to the financial security of Anganwadi workers after retirement, including the payment of gratuity and raising their retirement age to 60 years.
She was speaking at a review meeting held at Mantralaya to discuss the pending demands of Anganwadi workers and helpers. Senior officials, representatives of Anganwadi workers’ organisations and department staff were present at the meeting.
Tatkare said Anganwadi workers and helpers perform an important role in providing education and nutrition-related services to women and children, particularly those belonging to the most vulnerable sections of society. The government would consider their demands positively, she said.
“Gratuity and pension are both important issues. Decisions will be taken in phases to resolve these matters,” Tatkare said.
She added that the retirement benefit provided to Anganwadi workers after their long period of service plays an important role in ensuring financial security. The government would examine the possibility of increasing the benefit in accordance with the applicable rules, she said.
Promotion to Supervisor Posts
Tatkare said decisions regarding the promotion of eligible Anganwadi workers to the post of supervisor would be taken in accordance with existing rules, based on sanctioned posts and educational qualifications.
She also directed officials to ensure that Anganwadi workers are assigned work related to the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana within their respective areas, wherever possible.
The minister instructed authorities to ensure that travel allowances due to Anganwadi workers are paid on time. She also called for reducing the administrative workload as part of efforts to move towards paperless Anganwadi centres.
Tatkare said Anganwadi centres should be directed to maintain a minimum number of registers and use a mobile device for necessary digital work.
She stressed that officials should adopt a positive and problem-solving approach while addressing the difficulties faced by Anganwadi workers and helpers.
Proper Planning of Additional Work
Tatkare directed officials to plan additional responsibilities assigned to Anganwadi workers appropriately, keeping in mind the regular functioning of Anganwadi centres and the field visits undertaken by the workers.
The meeting also discussed the possibility of providing incentive-based remuneration to Anganwadi workers for additional duties performed by them.
Issues concerning medical leave and allowances for Anganwadi workers and helpers were also discussed.
The government said various demands relating to retirement benefits, gratuity, pension, promotion, educational qualifications, service conditions, social security, insurance coverage, leave, incentive-based remuneration and reduction of administrative workload would be considered positively.
Decisions on these issues will be taken in a phased manner, the department said.
Tatkare also emphasised the need for officials to regularly review the functioning and concerns of Anganwadi workers so that operational difficulties can be identified and resolved in a timely manner.
The meeting was attended by Secretary Dr Anupkumar Yadav, Commissioner Madhavi Sardeshmukh, Joint Secretary V. R. Thakur, Assistant Director Sudhir Samudre and representatives of Anganwadi workers, including Dilip Utane, Rajesh Singh, Rashmi Mhatre, Aparna Pansare, Seema Mujawar, Sanjeevani Waghmare and Maya Parmeshwar, along with other officials and employees.
