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Before the assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, political efforts to woo women voters have intensified. In the election year, Yogi government is now preparing to increase the honorarium of Anganwadi workers and assistants by 50 percent. If the proposal is approved, the honorarium of Anganwadi workers will increase from Rs 8 thousand to Rs 12 thousand and that of helpers will increase from Rs 4 thousand to Rs 6 thousand per month. Along with this, announcements like increasing the honorarium of cooks, giving scooters to girl students and free bus travel to women above 60 years of age have already been made by the government. On the other hand, Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav has made a big election promise of giving Rs 40 thousand every year to women. In such a situation, the efforts of Bharatiya Janata Party and Samajwadi Party regarding women's vote in UP have started appearing face to face.

The Child Development Services and Nutrition Department has prepared a proposal to increase the honorarium of Anganwadi workers and assistants by 50 percent. According to the proposal, the honorarium of Anganwadi workers will be increased from Rs 8,000 to Rs 12,000 and that of helpers will be increased from Rs 4,000 to Rs 6,000 per month. This is expected to directly benefit about 1.89 lakh Anganwadi workers and 1.67 lakh assistants of the state. It has come to light that the proposal has been agreed to at the level of Finance, Personnel and Justice departments. Now the cabinet approval is awaited.

The burden on the government will be more than Rs 3 thousand crores

If the honorarium increase is implemented, it is estimated that there will be an additional financial burden of more than Rs 3 thousand crore annually on the state government treasury. The special thing is that the state government itself will bear the additional burden of the increase. In April, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had announced a respectable increase in the honorarium of Anganwadi workers and assistants. Now after the proposal is prepared at the departmental level, preparations are being made to implement it.

Cooks' honorarium also increased

The government has already increased the honorarium to women category. The honorarium of cooks preparing food for children in schools has been increased from Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,000 per month. This has provided direct financial benefit to a large number of women. Now the possible increase in the honorarium of Anganwadi workers and assistants is being considered as the next big link in the same series.

Scooty for girl students and free bus travel for elderly women

Yogi government has also made a big announcement for girl students. It has been announced to give scooties to 50 thousand girl students in the state. Apart from this, it has also been announced to start the facility of free travel in roadways buses for women above 60 years of age. This means that the government's focus is visible on different sections of the women class – from working women to girl students and elderly women.

Akhilesh's election bet of Rs 40 thousand

On the other hand, Samajwadi Party has made a big economic promise to woo women voters. Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav has announced to give Rs 40 thousand every year to women under 'Stree Samman Samriddhi Yojana'. This promise of Samajwadi Party is not limited to Anganwadi workers, but talks about providing financial assistance to a large section of eligible women. Apart from this, the party has also made 33 percent reservation for women in government jobs and many other promises to girl students.

Women vote became election center

With the election year approaching in UP, the strategy of both the major parties regarding women voters is becoming clear. While the government is strengthening its message through announcements of women-centric schemes and economic relief one after the other, SP is trying to bring women voters to its side through big economic promises. The most important thing is that the proposal of 50 percent increase in Anganwadi honorarium is the latest issue, whereas honorarium to cooks, scooters to girl students and free bus travel for women are earlier announcements. On the other hand, ₹ 40 thousand annual assistance is the election promise of SP.

Now the big question is whose stake will be heavier?

On one hand, the scope of government schemes is increasing from Anganwadi to girl students and elderly women, on the other hand, Akhilesh Yadav's promise of Rs 40,000 annual financial assistance is an attempt to directly reach out to a large section of women voters. This competition for women voters before the 2027 elections is still in the beginning. If more big announcements are made from both sides in the coming days, then 'women vote' can become the biggest political issue in the electoral politics of UP.