Tripura HC asks govt to provide gratuity to retired Anganwadi workers, helpers

Tripura High Court on Thursday directed the state government to provide gratuity benefits to all Anganwadi workers and helpers after their retirement, a senior lawyer said adding that over 20,000 Anganwadi workers and helpers would be benefited with this court order.

Senior lawyer Purushottam Ray Barman said that High Court  of Tripura, Judge Sabyasachi Datta Purkayastha after hearing a case of Anganwadi workers and helpers directed the Tripura government to provide gratuity benefits to all retired  Anganwadi workers and helpers with interest. 

In 2021, the Supreme Court after hearing a case of Gujarat Anganwadi workers and helpers had directed to provide gratuity benefits to all Anganwadi workers and helpers recognizing their crucial role at the grassroots level, Ray Barman told the media after the judgement of the High Court.

He said that in accordance with the apex court ruling, the Tripura High Court directed the state government to provide gratuity benefits to all Anganwadi workers and helpers without any further delay.

Ray Barman said that after the retirement, 20 Anganwadi workers and helpers had filed a case before the High Court last year after they were denied the gratuity benefits by the state government’s Social Education and Social Welfare Department.

Following the High Court’s directive, 10,000 Anganwadi workers and 10,000 helpers in Tripura would be benefited after retirement, said the lawyer, who fought the case in the High Court.

CPI(M)’s trade union body CITU leader Jaya Barman after expressing her happiness over the High Court order said that the court's order fulfills one of the long pending demands of the Anganwadi workers and helpers.