: Madras High Court today directed Puducherry government to file a status report on existing vacancies and the time from within which they have to be filled with regard to anganwadi workers on a PIL filed in this regard.
The first bench, comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice M M Sundresh before which a PIL filed by one H Kanikannan of Puducherry, seeking a direction from the court to immediately fill up existing vacancies of these workers and anganwadi Assistants through employment exchange, directed directed the Department of Women and Child Development, to file a status report.
Petitioner submitted that government has set up anganwadi centres in the interest of young children to provide nutrition for them and women. The Central Government provides the entire fund for the services carried out by the state Government for the 788 Anganwadi centers in Puduchery.
He alleged that benefits under the scheme are not properly reaching needy women and children due to shortage of Anganwadi workers.As on Nov 19 2014, more than 118 anganwadi workers and 231 anganwadi assistants retired and there is a huge shortage of man power in the department, he asid.
The Puducherry government, instead of filling up these vacancies was spending money in wasteful projects by buying luxury cars for use of Ministers, Board Chairmen and other officials. Poor people are bound to suffer unless the vacancies were filled he said and sought a direction from the court to fill them up through employment exchange.
