The Madras High Court on Monday directed the Puducherry government to submit by June 12 a status report on the existing vacancies for the posts of anganwadi workers and assistants in the Union Territory and the time-frame within which the shortfall would be filled up.
The First Bench comprising the Chief Justice S.K.Kaul and Justice M.M.Sundresh passed the order on a petition by H.Kanikannan of Seliamedu in the Union Territory, who said he was an agriculturist and a social worker. The petitioner submitted that 180 anganwadi workers and 231 assistants had retired and there was a shortage of manpower.
The vacancies had an adverse impact on the Centre-sponsored Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme.
Counsel for the territorial government submitted that the authorities would examine the matter and an endeavour would be made to fill up the posts as soon as possible.