Alleged Violation of Government Guidelines in Anganwadi Worker Recruitment Raises Concerns in Anantnag District

Sameer Ahmad

Anantnag: In a potentially significant breach of government guidelines, the Child Development Project Officer (CDPO) of Achabal in Anantnag district, Jammu and Kashmir, is accused of selecting a candidate for the Anganwadi worker post without adhering to the prescribed eligibility criteria. Reliable sources have informed Arising State that a candidate was included in the tentative selection list based solely on the submission of an election card, disregarding the mandatory requirement of a Block Development Officer (BDO) certificate and failing to meet the electoral ward criteria for the advertised post.

The administration of Jammu and Kashmir recently issued a recruitment advertisement for Sanginis (Anganwadi Workers) and Sahayikas (Anganwadi Helpers) in Anganwadi centers across the union territory. The social welfare department’s order, Government Order No. 222-JK(SWD) of 2022, specifies that the selection process must adhere strictly to the procedure outlined in the new Human Resource policy.

According to the eligibility criteria outlined in the order, women candidates aged between 18 and 37 years, who are domiciled in Jammu and Kashmir and residents of the specific electoral ward where the Anganwadi center is located, are eligible for the post. The minimum qualification required for Anganwadi workers is 10+2, with a maximum of graduation. Selection is to be based purely on merit, determined by the marks obtained in the 10+2 examination.

In response to the allegations, CDPO Achabal acknowledged the presence of a large number of candidates during the submission process, which may have contributed to oversight. An internal inquiry has been initiated, and an explanation has been sought from the employee responsible for accepting the candidate’s application.

The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) District Programming Officer of Anantnag, overseeing the recruitment process, affirmed the commitment to transparency and compliance with the advertisement guidelines. They assured Arising State that the selection of candidates would be conducted meticulously, following the specified guidelines.

.