Anganwadi workers protest over non-payment of honorarium

Anganwadi workers during protest in Srinagar - Excelsior/Shakeel
Anganwadi workers during protest in Srinagar - Excelsior/Shakeel

Excelsior Correspondent

Srinagar, Feb 28: Anganwadi workers from different parts of Kashmir today staged a protest against the non-payment of their honorarium for the last at least 3 years, while they urged the Government to address their issues.
Scores of these workers appeared in the Press Enclave and were seen raising slogans in favour of their demands even as they appealed to the LG-led administration to ensure their dues are released, which they said, have been withheld without any reason.
Mehjabeen, who is heading the Helpers to Supervisors Association, said they are without an honorarium for the last 3 years and that the concerned department is not paying any heed towards them. Click here to watch video
“This is the height and irony on part of the Government as well as the concerned department that we have been left to fend for ourselves; our families are suffering, our children are facing a brunt; why the department is not taking note of our issues,” she said.
The Anganwadi workers said that they are being forced to come out on roads to press for their demands even as the court stayed their disengagement orders. “For seeking what is rightfully ours, we are forcing to come out on roads and protest; why isn’t the administration taking note of the issue and releasing our honorarium,” the workers said.
They said that despite the stay of the disengagement order, there has not been any worthwhile response from the department as they have been left to fend for themselves.
“We appeal the LG Manoj Sinha along with other officials to kindly intervene into the matter and ensure that our pending dues are released and that we are not made to come out on roads to press for our demands; it has become a norm for us to come out on roads, this needs to end,” the workers said.