The announcement came just before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rally at Barasat in the state’s North 24 Parganas district where he attacked the Trinamool Congress (TMC) for unleashing “a reign of terror” on women in West Bengal and said that “women of Bengal will put an end” to the party’s “mafia raj”.

Earlier, Asha and anganwadi workers used to get ₹8,250 per month, and with this hike, it will be ₹9,000. The remuneration of anganwadi helpers will be hiked by ₹500 per month, Banerjee added. They used to get ₹6,000 per month previously, and with this raise, it will increase to ₹6,500.

Mamata Banerjee made the announcement through a video message on Facebook. Later, in posts on Facebook and X, she said, “It is with immense pleasure that I announce that from April, 2024, our ASHA and Anganwadi workers will receive an enhanced remuneration of Rs. 750 every month. Additionally, we’ve decided to increase the monthly remuneration for our Anganwadi helpers by Rs. 500.”

Asha workers are an all-female cadre of community health workers constituted by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in 2006. Anganwadis are child and mother care centres established as part of the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS). Each anganwadi is run by a two-woman team of an anganwadi worker and a helper.