The Supreme Court on Monday held that anganwadi workers and helpers taking care of the nutrition needs of around 158 million children who were considered the “future resource of the country”, were entitled to gratuity, a basic social security measure.
A Bench of Justices Ajay Rastogi and A.K. Oka rued how these workers and helpers, who performed a bouquet of vital services at the grassroots level and were often the bridge between the government and beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act and the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS), were made to fight so hard and for so long for the recognition of their right to be paid gratuity under the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972.
The judgment came in an appeal filed by anganwadi workers and organisations represented by senior advocates Sanjay Parikh, P.V. Surendranath and advocate Subhash Chandran.
