New Delhi, Monday, February 28, 2011: Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, in his budget speech on Monday, announced a hike in wages for the Anganwadi workers and helpers, meeting their long due demand. “I am happy to announce an increase in the remuneration of the Anganwadi workers from Rs.1,500 per month to Rs.3,000 per month and for the Anganwadi helpers from Rs 750 per month to Rs 1,500 per month,” Mukherjee informed the Lok Sabha while presenting the budget for 2011-12.

“This will be effective from this year 1st April. Around 22 lakh Anganwadi workers and helpers will benefit from this increase,” he added.

Mukherjee announced that Rs 463.30 crore has been earmarked for Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC). An amount of Rs 100 crore has been allotted for the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology in Thiruvananthapuram and Rs 231.33 crore for the LPSC in Valiyamala.

Government has also allotted Rs 300 crore rupees for the second phase of the Japan drinking water scheme in Kerala, he added.

Mukherjee said that the handloom weavers have been facing economic stress. Consequently, many of them have not been able to repay debts to handloom weaver cooperative societies which have become financially unviable. “I propose to provide `3,000 crore to NABARD, in phases for these cooperative societies”. The initiative would benefit 15,000 cooperative societies and about 3 lakh handloom weavers.